Shloka 4

Bhāiṣajya-yoga: Lehyas for Kāsa–Śvāsa–Hikkā, Blood-Pacifying Drinks, Udvartana Depilation, and Dental Brightening

Devanagari script

समूलचित्रकं भस्मपिप्पलीचूर्णकं लिहेत् / श्वासं कासञ्च हिक्काञ्च मधुमिश्रं वृषध्वज !

Transliteration

samūlacitrakaṃ bhasmapippalīcūrṇakaṃ lihet / śvāsaṃ kāsañca hikkāñca madhumiśraṃ vṛṣadhvaja !

Translation

O Träger des Stier-Emblems (Śiva)! Man soll eine Mischung aus Citraka-Pulver samt Wurzel und aschfeinem pippalī-Pulver, mit Honig vermengt, lecken; sie lindert Atemnot, Husten und Schluckauf.

Word by Word

• समूलचित्रकम्: citraka along with its root
• समूलचित्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समूल (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: समूलः चित्रकः (मूलसहितं चित्रकम्)

• भस्मपिप्पलीचूर्णकम्: pippalī powder mixed with ash
• भस्मपिप्पलीचूर्णकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पिप्पली (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भस्मनः पिप्पल्याश्च चूर्णकम् (भस्मयुक्तं पिप्पलीचूर्णम्)

• लिहेत्: should lick/consume
• लिहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्वासम्: dyspnea/asthma
• श्वासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (रोग-निवारण-लक्ष्य)

• कासम्: cough
• कासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• हिक्काम्: hiccup
• हिक्काम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिक्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• मधुमिश्रम्: mixed with honey
• मधुमिश्रम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: मधुना मिश्रम्/मधु-मिश्रम्; (औषधस्य) विशेषण

• वृषध्वज: O Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः (शिव)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Healing knowledge can be transmitted in sacred dialogue; disciplined application of strong remedies for urgent conditions.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-anugraha as supportive context while employing proper means (yukti).

Application: Use citraka (with root) and pippali powder mixed with honey as a linctus for shvasa/kasa/hikka, with caution due to heating potency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.181 (formulations for shvasa-kasa-hikka)

Characters & Entities

• Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)

FAQs

What remedy is prescribed in this Garuda Purana verse?

It prescribes licking a honey-mixed powder of citraka (with root) and pippalī (long pepper) ash/powder to relieve breathlessness, cough, and hiccups.

Does this verse relate to afterlife rituals or a medical topic?

This specific verse is medical in nature, presenting a practical herbal preparation rather than describing Yama’s realm or post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights a traditional linctus-style herbal approach for respiratory discomfort; in modern use, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner due to potency and individual contraindications.