Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

कटिबद्धं निम्बमूलमक्षिसूलहरं भवेत् / शणमूलं सताम्बूलं दग्धमिन्द्रियकस्य (ल्प) हृत्

Transliteration

kaṭibaddhaṃ nimbamūlamakṣisūlaharaṃ bhavet / śaṇamūlaṃ satāmbūlaṃ dagdhamindriyakasya (lpa) hṛt

Translation

Wird die Neemwurzel um die Hüfte gebunden, so heißt es, sie nehme den Augenschmerz. Die verbrannte Wurzel von śaṇa, mit gutem tāmbūla (Betel) eingenommen, soll Leiden lindern, die die Sinne bedrängen, und in geringem Maß auch das Herz.

Word by Word

• कटिबद्धम्: tied at the waist
• कटिबद्धम्: Kriya-viseshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √बन्ध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कटौ बद्धम्’ (waist-bound)

• निम्बमूलम्: neem root
• निम्बमूलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘निम्बस्य मूलम्’

• अक्षिसूलहरम्: removing eye-pain
• अक्षिसूलहरम्: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अक्षिशूलं हरति’ (pain-removing)

• भवेत्: would be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शणमूलम्: hemp/flax root
• शणमूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शणस्य मूलम्’

• सताम्बूलम्: good betel (leaf)
• सताम्बूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सत् ताम्बूलम्’ (good betel)

• दग्धम्: burnt
• दग्धम्: Kriya-viseshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √दह्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘burnt’

• इन्द्रियकस्य: of Indriyaka (a being/person)
• इन्द्रियकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रियक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हृत्: heart
• हृत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (हृद्/हृत्), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘heart’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa, within a remedies section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preventive and protective care of the senses through readily available remedies.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-samyama begins with indriya-raksha (guarding the senses); bodily order supports mental clarity.

Application: Tie neem root at the waist for eye-pain (traditional apotropaic/therapeutic use); use burnt shana-root with quality tambula as a supportive remedy for sensory disorders (with caution).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177 (ausadha/roganivarana measures)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa
• Nimba (Neem)
• Tāmbūla

FAQs

What is the importance of neem (nimba) in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, neem root is presented as a protective/remedial measure—when tied at the waist it is said to relieve eye pain—showing the text’s use of simple herbal and ritual-style remedies.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This verse does not describe the after-death journey; it belongs to the Ācāra/health-remedy material, emphasizing bodily well-being and practical cures rather than preta-yātrā or Yama’s realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It can be read as a record of traditional ethnomedicine: neem and other herbs were used in simple formulations; in modern practice, treat it as historical guidance and consult qualified medical professionals before applying herbal remedies.