Shloka 14

Auṣadha-Yoga: Medicinal Powders, External Therapies, Fumigation, and Vishnu as Supreme Remedy

Devanagari script

कूर्ममत्स्याश्वमहिषगोशृगालाश्च वानराः / विडालबर्हिकाकाश्च वराहोलूककुक्कुटाः

Transliteration

kūrmamatsyāśvamahiṣagośṛgālāśca vānarāḥ / viḍālabarhikākāśca varāholūkakukkuṭāḥ

Translation

Genannt werden: Schildkröten, Fische, Pferde, Büffel, Kühe, Schakale und Affen; ferner Katzen, Pfauen, Krähen, Wildschweine, Eulen und Hähne.

Word by Word

• कूर्म: tortoises
• कूर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• मत्स्य: fish
• मत्स्य: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• अश्व: horses
• अश्व: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• महिष: buffaloes
• महिष: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• गो: cows
• गो: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शृगालाः: jackals
• शृगालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृगाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वानराः: monkeys
• वानराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• विडाल: cats
• विडाल: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विडाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• बर्हिकाः: peahens (female peacocks)
• बर्हिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• काकाः: crows
• काकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वराह: boars
• वराह: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• उलूक: owls
• उलूक: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• कुक्कुटाः: cocks/roosters
• कुक्कुटाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्कुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied life-forms and their substances can function as instruments within remedial/ritual causality.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat as upādhi-field where guṇa/karma operate; pragmatic acceptance of material means (upāya) within dharmic life.

Application: Recognize the text is introducing a materia list; consult the subsequent prescriptions for how/when these are employed (e.g., dhūpa, śānti).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.193.15-17 (dhūpa/auṣadha/Vishnu as medicine); Garuda Purana 1.194.1 (Vaiṣṇava kavaca as sarvavyādhi-hara)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of listing animal forms in the Garuda Purana?

Such lists are used to illustrate karma-driven transmigration (yoni-bheda), showing how actions can lead the jiva into various non-human births.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By naming multiple species, the verse supports the Garuda Purana theme that the soul, propelled by karma, can move through many embodiments rather than remaining confined to a single human life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat conduct as consequential: cultivate dharma, restraint, and compassion, remembering that harmful actions can degrade one’s future condition of birth and experience.