Shloka 17

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

Hair Growth, Greying Reversal, Head & Ear Remedies

Devanagari script

यवास्तिलाः सैन्धवं च पादिकोद्वर्तनं शुभम् / लिङ्गबाहुस्तनानां च कर्णयोर्वृद्धिकृद्भवेत् / कटुतैलं भल्लातकं बृहती फलदाडिमम्

Transliteration

yavāstilāḥ saindhavaṃ ca pādikodvartanaṃ śubham / liṅgabāhustanānāṃ ca karṇayorvṛddhikṛdbhavet / kaṭutailaṃ bhallātakaṃ bṛhatī phaladāḍimam

Translation

Gerste, Sesam und Steinsalz sind glückverheißend zum Einreiben und Reinigen der Füße. Eine solche Anwendung, so heißt es, fördert das rechte Wachstum und Wohlergehen von Liṅga, Armen, Brüsten und Ohren. Ebenso werden scharfes Öl, Bhallātaka (Markiernuss), Bṛhatī und Granatapfelfrucht verordnet.

Word by Word

• यवाः: barley grains
• यवाः: Vishaya (Item listed/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — ‘barleys’

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Vishaya (Item listed/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — ‘sesame seeds’

• सैन्धवम्: rock salt
• सैन्धवम्: Vishaya (Item listed/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘rock-salt’

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• पादिक: for the feet
• पादिक: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पादिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — विशेषण ‘pertaining to the feet’

• उद्वर्तनम्: rubbing/massage
• उद्वर्तनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक; √वृत्/√वर्त् भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘rubbing/massage (powder-rub)’

• शुभम्: beneficial
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — विशेषण ‘auspicious/beneficial’ (उद्वर्तनम् इति विशेष्य)

• लिङ्ग: of the genital
• लिङ्ग: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of the genital’

• बाहु: of the arm
• बाहु: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of the arm’

• स्तनानाम्: of the breasts
• स्तनानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन — ‘of the breasts’

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कर्णयोः: in/of the two ears
• कर्णयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन — ‘of/in the two ears’ (सन्दर्भे षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)

• वृद्धि: increase
• वृद्धि: Vishaya (Item/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘increase/growth’ (समासाङ्ग)

• कृत्: causing
• कृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ कर्तरि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘maker/causing’ (समासाङ्ग)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘would be/should become’

• कटु: pungent
• कटु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — विशेषण ‘pungent’

• तैलम्: oil
• तैलम्: Vishaya (Item listed/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘oil’

• भल्लातकम्: bhallātaka (marking nut)
• भल्लातकम्: Vishaya (Item listed/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्लातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘marking-nut’

• बृहती: bṛhatī
• बृहती: Vishaya (Item listed/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — द्रव्यनाम

• फल: fruit
• फल: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘fruit’ (समासाङ्ग)

• दाडिमम्: pomegranate
• दाडिमम्: Vishaya (Item listed/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाडिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘pomegranate’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (cleanliness) and bodily maintenance as auspicious discipline supporting life aims.

Vedantic Theme: Balance of guṇas through regulated conduct; body as field for dharma.

Application: Use barley, sesame, and rock-salt for foot-rubbing/cleansing; apply prescribed strengthening substances (katu-taila, bhallātaka, bṛhatī, dāḍima) as indicated by the regimen.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.176.15–16 (preceding remedies and ingredients); Garuda Purana 1.176.18 (anointment leading to increase)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of udvartana (rubbing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats udvartana—especially of the feet—as an auspicious, beneficial practice linked with bodily strengthening and proper development of specific organs and senses.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Alongside afterlife doctrine, the text also preserves practical dharma—everyday disciplines and traditional remedies—presented as supportive of health, purity, and well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a general takeaway, maintain cleanliness and disciplined self-care; if using herbal/oil applications, follow safe, traditional guidance and modern medical caution—especially with potent substances like bhallātaka.