Shloka 21

Bhāiṣajya-yoga

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

Devanagari script

धत्तूरबीजतैलेन दीपप्रज्वलनाद्धर / समाधावुपविष्टन्तु गगनस्थो न पश्यति

Transliteration

dhattūrabījatailena dīpaprajvalanāddhara / samādhāvupaviṣṭantu gaganastho na paśyati

Translation

O Erde, entzündet man eine Lampe mit Öl, das aus Dhattūra-Samen gepresst ist, so kann selbst der in tiefem Samādhi Sitzende nicht gesehen werden—auch wenn er im Himmel weilt.

Word by Word

• धत्तूरबीजतैलेन: with oil of dhattūra seeds
• धत्तूरबीजतैलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धत्तूर-बीज-तैल (प्रातिपदिक; धत्तूर + बीज + तैल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• दीपप्रज्वलनात्: from lighting a lamp; by lamp-ignition
• दीपप्रज्वलनात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप-प्रज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक; दीप + प्रज्वलन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेतौ

• धर: O bearer/holder (address)
• धर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक; संबोधन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• समाधौ: in samādhi/trance
• समाधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• उपविष्टम्: seated
• उपविष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (पाठभेदे ‘उपविष्टन्तु’ इति)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• गगनस्थः: situated in the sky; airborne
• गगनस्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गगन-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; गगन + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Drishti-moha/adrishya-kriya: manipulation of perception through a specific substance (dhattura-seed oil) and lamp-lighting.

Vedantic Theme: Maya and indriya-bhranti: perception can be conditioned; the seen/unseen is not absolute at the empirical level.

Application: Read as a cautionary illustration of how perception can be altered (psychologically/ritually); in modern terms, treat as metaphor for cognitive bias or as folklore of siddhis rather than a reliable technique.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: liminal space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.184.20 (dhattura usage)

Characters & Entities

• Earth (Dhara)
• Dhattura

FAQs

What is the importance of dhattūra oil lamp practice in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links a specific ritual act—lighting a lamp with dhattūra-seed oil—to altered perception/visibility, reflecting the text’s catalog of specialized prayogas (applications) rather than general dharma teaching.

How does this verse explain perception during samādhi?

It implies that even a person established in samādhi may not be perceptible to others under certain conditions—highlighting the Purana’s theme that visibility and perception can be influenced by ritual substances and circumstances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat such instructions as textual documentation of traditional prayogas; prioritize ethical restraint and safety, and consult qualified tradition-bearers before attempting any herb-based ritual, since dhattūra is toxic and misuse can cause harm.