Shloka 19

Bhaiṣajya-yogas: Digestive Modakas, Vāta-Śamana Oils, Karṇa-Roga Tailas, Kuṣṭha/Śvitra Applications, Vraṇa-Cikitsā, and Medhya Preparations

Devanagari script

सद्यो विनाशमायान्ति शशाङ्ककृतशेखर / क्षारतैलमिदं श्रेष्ठं मुखदन्तमलापहम्

Transliteration

sadyo vināśamāyānti śaśāṅkakṛtaśekhara / kṣāratailamidaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ mukhadantamalāpaham

Translation

O Śaśāṅkakṛtaśekhara, die Unreinheiten werden sogleich vernichtet. Dieses alkalische Öl ist vortrefflich; es entfernt den Belag von Mund und Zähnen.

Word by Word

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• विनाशम्: destruction
• विनाशम्: Gati/Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आयान्ति: they come/attain
• आयान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• शशाङ्ककृतशेखर: O one whose crest is made by the moon (epithet)
• शशाङ्ककृतशेखर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशाङ्क-कृत-शेखर (प्रातिपदिक; शशाङ्क + कृत + शेखर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (शशाङ्केन कृतः शेखरः यस्य)

• क्षारतैलम्: alkaline oil
• क्षारतैलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षार-तैल (प्रातिपदिक; क्षार + तैल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षारयुक्तं तैलम्)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent/best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मुखदन्तमलापहम्: removing dirt of mouth and teeth
• मुखदन्तमलापहम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख-दन्त-मल-अपह (प्रातिपदिक; मुख + दन्त + मल + अपह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुखदन्तमलस्य अपहः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda; verse contains an addressed epithet within the instruction)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (cleanliness) as a dharmic support; swift removal of mala (impurity) through proper formulation.

Vedantic Theme: Cultivation of sattva through external and internal purification; disciplined routine as preparatory to higher pursuits.

Application: Use the described kṣāra-taila (alkaline oil) to remove mouth and tooth impurities; emphasizes immediate effect.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.192 (oral/ENT remedies; kṣāra-taila context)

Characters & Entities

• Shashanka-krita-shekhara

FAQs

What is the importance of purification practices in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes immediate removal of impurity through a prescribed cleansing substance, reflecting the Purana’s broader insistence that bodily cleanliness supports ritual fitness and dharmic living.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by stressing purity and removal of mala (impurity), it supports the Garuda Purana’s wider teaching that disciplined, sattvic conduct and clean observances aid one’s spiritual readiness and post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain disciplined oral hygiene and cleanliness as part of daily routine, treating purity not only as health practice but as a supportive aid for prayer, mantra, and ritual observance.