Shloka 48

Treatment of Nāḍī-vraṇa, Bhagandara, Upadaṃśa, Fractures, Kuṣṭha/Śvitra, Āmlapitta, ENT–Eye Disorders, and Bleeding Conditions

Devanagari script

पटोल निम्बजम्व्वाग्रमालतीनवपल्लवाः / पञ्चपल्लवकः श्रेष्ठः कषयो मुखधावने

Transliteration

paṭola nimbajamvvāgramālatīnavapallavāḥ / pañcapallavakaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ kaṣayo mukhadhāvane

Translation

Die frischen zarten Blätter von paṭola, neem, der obere Spross von jambū und die jungen Triebe der mālatī—dieser adstringierende ‘Fünf-Blätter’-Sud (kaṣāya) gilt als der beste zum Spülen und Reinigen des Mundes.

Word by Word

• पटोल: paṭola
• पटोल: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पटोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (द्रव्यनाम), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'paṭola (pointed gourd)' (समासाङ्ग)

• निम्ब: neem
• निम्ब: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'neem' (समासाङ्ग)

• जम्बू: jambu
• जम्बू: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'jambu (rose-apple)' (समासाङ्ग)

• व्वाग्र: (plant) vāgra/vakra (uncertain)
• व्वाग्र: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाग्र/वक्र (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद-संभव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'vvāgra/vakra (uncertain reading; a plant-name)' (समासाङ्ग)

• मालती: mālatī (jasmine)
• मालती: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मालती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'mālatī (jasmine)' (समासाङ्ग)

• नव: fresh/new
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — 'new/fresh' (पल्लवाः विशेषण)

• पल्लवाः: tender shoots/leaves
• पल्लवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — 'shoots/tender leaves'

• पञ्चपल्लवकः: five-leaf group
• पञ्चपल्लवकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + पल्लवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'five-leaf (group)' (द्विगु-समास)

• श्रेष्ठः: best
• श्रेष्ठः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'best/excellent' (पञ्चपल्लवकः विशेषण)

• कषयः: decoction
• कषयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कषाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'decoction/astringent wash'

• मुखधावने: for washing the mouth
• मुखधावने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + धावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — 'in mouth-washing' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मुखस्य धावनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Regular cleansing practices using readily available natural resources sustain health and purity.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic routine (dinacaryā) as support for clarity and restraint.

Application: Prepare a pañcapallavaka kaṣāya from specified tender leaves; use for mouth washing/rinsing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-grove/household garden

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.171 (mukha-dhāvana and kaṣāya recommendations)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of pañca-pallavaka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pañca-pallavaka as a superior astringent decoction for mouth cleansing, linking bodily purity with ritual cleanliness.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices?

It conveys practical, scripture-backed hygiene guidance—often framed as supportive to purity (śauca) required for rites and disciplined living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use gentle, safe herbal astringents for oral hygiene where appropriate, while prioritizing cleanliness as part of daily discipline (śauca).