Shloka 37

Netra–Nāsa–Mukha Cikitsā, Vraṇa/Bhasma Prayoga, Jvara–Vāta Remedies, and Protective/Uccāṭana Procedures

Devanagari script

वारिपिष्टैर्वक्त्रलेपः स्त्रीणां शोभनवक्त्रकृत् / द्विभागं छागदुग्धेन तैलप्रस्थं तु साधितम्

Transliteration

vāripiṣṭairvaktralepaḥ strīṇāṃ śobhanavaktrakṛt / dvibhāgaṃ chāgadugdhena tailaprasthaṃ tu sādhitam

Translation

Eine Gesichtspaste aus in Wasser verriebenen Zutaten vermehrt die Schönheit des Antlitzes der Frau. Sie wird bereitet, indem man ein Prastha Öl mit zwei Teilen Ziegenmilch zusammen kocht.

Word by Word

• वारिपिष्टैः: with (things) ground with water
• वारिपिष्टैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक) + पिष्ट (कृदन्त, √पिष् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (वारिणा पिष्टम्)

• वक्त्रलेपः: face-application; facial paste
• वक्त्रलेपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (वक्त्रस्य लेपः)

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) बहुवचनम्

• शोभनवक्त्रकृत्: making the face beautiful
• शोभनवक्त्रकृत्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त, √कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचनम्; कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृदन्त) ‘कृत्’ = ‘करोति’ अर्थे; समासः (शोभनं वक्त्रं करोति)

• द्विभागम्: two parts (a double portion)
• द्विभागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; द्विगुसमासः (द्वौ भागौ)

• छागदुग्धेन: with goat’s milk
• छागदुग्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाग (प्रातिपदिक) + दुग्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (छागस्य दुग्धम्)

• तैलप्रस्थम्: one prastha measure of oil
• तैलप्रस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक; मानपरिमाण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (तैलस्य प्रस्थः)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (emphasis/contrast)

• साधितम्: prepared/cooked (processed)
• साधितम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √साध् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (contextually ‘prepared’)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body as a legitimate, orderly household practice when done with moderation and cleanliness.

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as an instrument (sādhana) to be maintained; sattvic orderliness supports higher aims.

Application: Prepare a facial lepa with water-ground ingredients; cook 1 prastha oil with 2 parts goat milk; apply as a beautifying paste with hygienic routine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177 (Ayurveda/cosmetic and remedy section context)

Characters & Entities

• Women
• Goat (chāga)

FAQs

What is the purpose of this vaktralepa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives a practical formulation for a facial application intended to improve facial beauty and complexion, indicating the text’s inclusion of household and body-care remedies.

Does this verse relate to death rituals or Yama’s realm in the Garuda Purana?

No. This specific shloka is a recipe-style instruction about a beauty paste; it does not discuss the soul’s journey, preta rites, or punishments.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse today?

It highlights a traditional method: water-ground ingredients used as a facial paste, with oil processed using goat’s milk in specified proportions—useful as a historical reference for classical Indian skincare formulations.