Shloka 26

Bhāiṣajya-yoga

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

Devanagari script

दन्तं डुण्डुभसर्पस्य मुखे संगृह्य वै क्षिपेत् / तिष्ठते च जलान्तस्तु निर्विकल्पं स्थले यथा

Transliteration

dantaṃ ḍuṇḍubhasarpasya mukhe saṃgṛhya vai kṣipet / tiṣṭhate ca jalāntastu nirvikalpaṃ sthale yathā

Translation

Nimmt man einen Zahn der Schlange ḍuṇḍubha und hält ihn im Mund, kann man den Körper ins Wasser werfen; dann bleibt er im Wasser reglos und unverändert, als stünde er auf trockenem Land.

Word by Word

• दन्तम्: tooth
• दन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• डुण्डुभसर्पस्य: of the ḍuṇḍubha-snake
• डुण्डुभसर्पस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डुण्डुभ + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (डुण्डुभः इव सर्पः / डुण्डुभ-नामकस्य सर्पस्य)

• मुखे: in the mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• संगृह्य: having taken/collected
• संगृह्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• क्षिपेत्: should throw
• क्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तिष्ठते: stands/remains
• तिष्ठते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• जलान्तः: inside water
• जलान्तः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (जलस्य अन्तः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (contrastive particle)

• निर्विकल्पम्: without wavering/undisturbed
• निर्विकल्पम्: Visheshana (Manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as an adverbial accusative)

• स्थले: on land
• स्थले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Exploration of hidden properties (guṇa) of substances and their claimed effects on the body; mastery over fear and environment through specialized knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Indirectly contrasts the mutable body with the aspiration for steadiness (sthiti); ‘unmoving like on land’ echoes the ideal of inner steadiness though applied here physically.

Application: Treat extraordinary claims with discernment; cultivate steadiness and breath-control safely (e.g., pranayama under guidance) rather than hazardous experiments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: waterbody

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.184 (substance-based protective techniques; aquatic endurance motifs)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Serpent (Nāga/ḍuṇḍubha)

FAQs

What is the importance of this instruction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse describes a specific ritualized method associated with placing a serpent’s tooth in the mouth before casting into water, emphasizing an intended effect: the body remains steady and unaltered in water, indicating controlled, rule-based handling of a corpse.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on death rituals?

It fits the text’s broader śava-saṃskāra (corpse-rite) and post-death procedural guidance, where precise actions are said to produce definite physical outcomes, reinforcing the idea that death rites are technical and consequential.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat last rites as disciplined, tradition-governed actions: follow legitimate local dharma/śāstra guidance and qualified priests rather than improvising, and prioritize respectful, safe, and lawful handling of the deceased.