Shloka 10

Keśa-vardhana, Pālitā-nāśa, Śiraḥ-roga and Karṇa-śūla Cikitsā

Hair Growth, Greying Reversal, Head & Ear Remedies

Devanagari script

आम्रास्थिमज्जा त्रिफला नी (ता) ली च भृङ्ग राजकम् / जीर्णं पक्वं लोहचूर्णं काञ्जिकं कृष्णकेशकृत्

Transliteration

āmrāsthimajjā triphalā nī (tā) lī ca bhṛṅga rājakam / jīrṇaṃ pakvaṃ lohacūrṇaṃ kāñjikaṃ kṛṣṇakeśakṛt

Translation

Mark aus dem Mangokern, Triphalā, Nīlī (oder Tālī) und Bhr̥ṅgarāja—zusammen mit gut gereiftem, saurem Kāñjika und sorgfältig bereitetem Eisenpulver—sollen schwarzes Haar hervorbringen.

Word by Word

• आम्रास्थिमज्जा: marrow of mango-stone (seed)
• आम्रास्थिमज्जा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आम्रस्य अस्थ्नः मज्जा)

• त्रिफला: Triphala (three-fruit formulation)
• त्रिफला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि फलानि यस्याः)

• नीली: indigo plant (nīlī)
• नीली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भृङ्गराजकम्: bhringaraja (Eclipta alba)
• भृङ्गराजकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गराजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जीर्णम्: old/aged
• जीर्णम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (कृदन्त; √जॄ/जॄण् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• पक्वम्: ripe/cooked
• पक्वम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्व (कृदन्त; √पच् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• लोहचूर्णम्: iron powder
• लोहचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोहस्य चूर्णम्)

• काञ्जिकम्: sour gruel (kanjika)
• काञ्जिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्जिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कृष्णकेशकृत्: making the hair black
• कृष्णकेशकृत्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णान् केशान् करोति इति)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body as a support for life and religious duties; preservation of vitality through proper remedies.

Vedantic Theme: Śarīra as an instrument (sādhana) for puruṣārthas; sattvic maintenance enabling japa, vrata, and service.

Application: Use a traditional hair-darkening formulation with iron and fermented medium under competent guidance; emphasize safe preparation and dosage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.176 (Ayurveda/auṣadha section; hair and head remedies context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of kāñjika and loha-cūrṇa in this Garuda Purana hair formula?

The verse highlights fermented kāñjika as a processing medium and loha-cūrṇa (iron powder) as an added ingredient, together presented as contributing to kṛṣṇa-keśa-kṛt—promoting black hair.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not; it is a health/cosmetic prescription section rather than a teaching on preta-gati, karma, or Yama’s punishments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It preserves a classical ingredient list associated with hair darkening (triphala, bhringraj, indigo/variant, fermented medium, iron), useful for historical/ayurvedic study; safe preparation requires expert guidance.