Shloka 14

Rasāyana for Longevity: Milk-Based Regimens, Triphalā, Palāśa, and Bhr̥ṅgarāja (Śrāvaṇa & Puṣya Observances)

Devanagari script

मासमात्रप्रयोगेण वलीपलितवर्जितः / शतानि पञ्च जीवेच्च नरो नागबलो भवेत् / भवेच्छ्रुतिधरो रुद्र पुष्यर्क्षे चैव भक्षणात्

Transliteration

māsamātraprayogeṇa valīpalitavarjitaḥ / śatāni pañca jīvecca naro nāgabalo bhavet / bhavecchrutidharo rudra puṣyarkṣe caiva bhakṣaṇāt

Translation

Durch Anwendung nur einen Monat lang wird der Mensch frei von Falten und grauem Haar; er kann fünfhundert Jahre leben und die Kraft eines Nāga (heiligen Schlangwesens) erlangen. O Rudra, wer es verzehrt, während die Nakṣatra Puṣya wirkt, wird zum Śrutidhara (śrutidhara), einem Träger des heiligen Wissens.

Word by Word

• मास: month
• मास: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-पूर्वपद (month)

• मात्र: mere/only
• मात्र: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-पूर्वपद (mere/only)

• प्रयोगेण: by (a) one-month use/practice
• प्रयोगेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मास+मात्र+प्रयोग)

• वली: wrinkle
• वली: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समास-पूर्वपद

• पलित: grey hair
• पलित: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-पूर्वपद

• वर्जितः: free from wrinkles and grey hair
• वर्जितः: Karta (Predicate/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु) → वर्जित (क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; तत्पुरुष (वली+पलित+वर्जित)

• शतानि: hundreds
• शतानि: Karma (Extent/कर्म-प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; प्रमाण (extent)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; शतानि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण

• जीवेत्: would live
• जीवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• नागबलः: strong like a nāga (very strong)
• नागबलः: Karta (Predicate/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘नागस्य बलम्’ → ‘having elephant/serpent-like strength’)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• श्रुतिधरः: one who retains learning (good memory)
• श्रुतिधरः: Karta (Predicate/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक; from धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘श्रुतिं धरति’ = one who retains what is heard)

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• पुष्यर्क्षे: at Puṣya asterism
• पुष्यर्क्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (restrictive particle)

• भक्षणात्: from eating (it)
• भक्षणात्: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; from भक्ष्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/अपादान (by/from eating)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Consistent practice with correct timing yields extraordinary embodied results; vitality supports the pursuit and retention of sacred knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Sharīra as instrument for svādhyāya and dharma; enhancement of smṛti/śruti-dhāraṇā as sattva-vṛddhi.

Application: Use the preparation for one month; take it specifically during Puṣya for best effect; maintain regimen consistency (implied), aiming at rejuvenation, strength, and cognitive retention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: earthly regimen framed by celestial time

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.187.13-14 (bhr̥ṅgarāja rasāyana with Puṣya timing; anti-aging, strength, śrutidhara claim)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Puṣya (nakṣatra)
• Nāga

FAQs

What is the importance of Puṣya nakṣatra in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse links the timing of consumption to Puṣya nakṣatra, stating that eating it under Puṣya specifically enhances śrutidhāra-śakti (retentive sacred learning/memory).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like dharma or afterlife?

While not an afterlife passage, it reflects the Purana’s broader āchāra focus: disciplined practice and proper timing (kāla/nakṣatra) are presented as means to strengthen the body and sharpen scriptural retention, supporting dharmic living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a traditional claim emphasizing consistent practice and mindful timing; if applying it as a health regimen, follow safe dietary guidance and consult qualified practitioners rather than relying on the verse as medical instruction.