Shloka 19

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

Fever, GI Disorders, Bleeding, Respiratory, Urinary, Swelling, and Wound Care

Devanagari script

भेषजं शस्त्रक्षाराग्न्यस्त्रिधा वै चार्शसां हरम् / विद्धि तच्चार्शसोघ्नन्तु यद्धि तक्रं नवोद्धृतम्

Transliteration

bheṣajaṃ śastrakṣārāgnyastridhā vai cārśasāṃ haram / viddhi taccārśasoghnantu yaddhi takraṃ navoddhṛtam

Translation

Wisse, dass das Heilmittel gegen arśas (Hämorrhoiden) dreifach ist: durch Operation, durch Ätzbehandlung mit Alkali (kṣāra) und durch Feuer (thermische Kauterisation). Doch erkenne: frische, eben bereitete Buttermilch (takra) ist wahrlich ein Vernichter der Hämorrhoiden.

Word by Word

• bheṣajam: medicine/remedy
• bheṣajam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheṣaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• śastra-kṣāra-agni-astri-dhā: in three ways: by surgery/alkali/cautery (etc.)
• śastra-kṣāra-agni-astri-dhā: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣāra (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + astri (प्रातिपदिक) + dhā (अव्यय)
• Form: ‘त्रिधा’ (अव्यय) with enumeration: by three means—śastra, kṣāra, agni (text has ‘astrि’ as variant/epithet); treated as adverbial specification

• tridhā: threefold
• tridhā: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in three ways)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (indeed)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• arśasām: of piles/hemorrhoids
• arśasām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• haram: removing/curing
• haram: Karma (Qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘हर’ = removing; qualifying bheṣajam

• viddhi: know/understand
• viddhi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• arśasaḥ-ghnam: destroying piles
• arśasaḥ-ghnam: Karma (Object complement/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arśas (प्रातिपदिक) + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘arśas’ + ‘ghna’) qualifying ‘tat’

• tu: indeed/however
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान (indeed/however)

• yat: which/that which
• yat: Karta (Relative subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (for/indeed)

• takram: buttermilk
• takram: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: takra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• nava-uddhṛtam: freshly drawn/newly prepared
• nava-uddhṛtam: Karta (Qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhṛta (कृदन्त; √uddhṛ/उद्धृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘freshly drawn/just churned’) qualifying takram

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proportional response to suffering: escalate treatment as needed, but value simple, sattvic dietary measures when effective.

Vedantic Theme: Yukti (skillful means) in action; minimizing harm while restoring functional balance.

Application: Recognize three therapeutic modalities for arśas—śastra, kṣāra, agni—while employing fresh, newly churned buttermilk as a key supportive/primary remedy where suitable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (arśas management; diet and procedures)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What does the Garuda Purana say is beneficial for arśas (piles)?

This verse states that while treatment is classically threefold (surgery, alkali, fire), fresh buttermilk (navoddhṛta takra) is specifically praised as arśas-destroying.

How does this verse connect to dharma or disciplined living?

By emphasizing regulated, appropriate remedies and dietetic support (like fresh buttermilk), it reflects a dharmic approach to bodily maintenance as part of responsible household life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It suggests dietary support alongside clinical care; in modern terms, use evidence-informed medical advice and consider traditional dietary measures only if suitable for one’s condition.