Shloka 19

Bhāiṣajya-yoga

Remedial Formulas), Rakṣā-prayoga (Protections), and Adbhuta-kriyā (Wonder-Working Procedures

Devanagari script

मध्वाज्यं गुडताम्रञ्च कारवेल्लरसस्तथा / दहनाच्च भवेद्रौप्यं सुवर्णकरणं शृणु

Transliteration

madhvājyaṃ guḍatāmrañca kāravellarasastathā / dahanācca bhavedraupyaṃ suvarṇakaraṇaṃ śṛṇu

Translation

Honig, Ghee, Jaggery, Kupfer und ebenso der Saft der Bittergurke—wenn dies nach vorgeschriebener Weise erhitzt wird, entsteht Silber. Nun höre die Methode, Gold zu bereiten.

Word by Word

• मधु: honey
• मधु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• आज्यम्: ghee
• आज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• गुड: jaggery
• गुड: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• ताम्रम्: copper
• ताम्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

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

• कारवेल्लरसः: juice of bitter gourd
• कारवेल्लरसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारवेल्ल-रस (प्रातिपदिक; कारवेल्ल + रस)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• दहनात्: from burning; by combustion
• दहनात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

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

• भवेत्: would become/should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रौप्यम्: silver
• रौप्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• सुवर्णकरणम्: making of gold; gold-making procedure
• सुवर्णकरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण-करण (प्रातिपदिक; सुवर्ण + करण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prayoga-jnana (procedural knowledge) of material transformation through controlled heating and mixtures.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavaharika-jagat: empirical operations within prakriti; knowledge as a means (upaya) distinct from ultimate liberation.

Application: Treat as a traditional rasashastra-style recipe: emphasize careful measurement, controlled heat, and discernment about claims; use as a lens to study historical Indian alchemical imagination rather than as a literal modern metallurgical guarantee.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.184.20-23 (continuation of alchemical/occult procedures)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of suvarṇakaraṇa (making gold) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces a technical, procedure-based teaching (vidhi) on metal transformation, presenting the text not only as spiritual instruction but also as a compendium that includes traditional rasayana/metal-working lore.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey directly; instead, it shifts to practical instruction, signaling that this chapter section contains technical teachings (here, silver and gold preparation) rather than afterlife narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a historical record of traditional metallurgical/rasayana ideas and as a reminder to approach powerful techniques with discipline, proper guidance, and ethical intent rather than greed.