Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

खल्वाटस्य च वै केशा भवन्ति वृषभध्वज / तैलयुक्तेन चूर्णेन वलीपलितनाशनम्

Transliteration

khalvāṭasya ca vai keśā bhavanti vṛṣabhadhvaja / tailayuktena cūrṇena valīpalitanāśanam

Translation

O Herr mit dem Banner des Stieres (Vṛṣabhadhvaja, Śiva), selbst dem Kahlköpfigen wachsen wahrlich Haare; und ein mit Öl vermischtes Pulver, so heißt es, vertreibt Falten und graues Haar.

Word by Word

• खल्वाटस्य: of a bald man
• खल्वाटस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल्वाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Emphatic particle)

• केशाः: hairs
• केशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भवन्ति: come to be/grow
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• वृषभध्वज: O one whose banner is the bull (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य)

• तैलयुक्तेन: with (something) mixed with oil
• तैलयुक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैल + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; युज्-धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त; तत्पुरुषः (तैलेन युक्तेन)

• चूर्णेन: with powder
• चूर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• वलीपलितनाशनम्: removal of wrinkles and grey hair
• वलीपलितनाशनम्: Kriya-visheshana (Result/Effect/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वली + पलित + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वलीपलितस्य नाशनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External therapies (oil + powder) can counter signs of aging; bodily upkeep is part of orderly living.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic care for the body as a support for steadiness and duty; not ultimate, but instrumentally valuable.

Application: Topical application of medicated powder mixed with oil for hair growth and reduction of wrinkles/greying; maintain cleanliness and regular routine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.187 (hair/skin rejuvenation measures; oils, powders, milk preparations)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Vṛṣabhadhvaja)

FAQs

What remedy does this Garuda Purana verse suggest for baldness?

It states that hair can grow even for a bald person through the use of a medicinal powder (cūrṇa) mixed with oil (taila).

Does this verse relate to death rituals or the afterlife themes of Garuda Purana?

In this specific verse, the focus is practical bodily well-being (hair, wrinkles, greying) rather than preta-rites or Yama’s realm; it reflects the Purana’s broader inclusion of dharma and life-guidance alongside afterlife teachings.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse today?

Use traditional, oil-based herbal care as a disciplined routine for health and ageing concerns, while applying discernment and appropriate guidance for any medicinal preparation.