Shloka 34

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

गजो पसर्गव्याधीनां शमनं शान्तिकर्म च / पूजयित्वा सुरान्विप्रान्रत्नैर्गां कपिलां ददेत्

Transliteration

gajo pasargavyādhīnāṃ śamanaṃ śāntikarma ca / pūjayitvā surānviprānratnairgāṃ kapilāṃ dadet

Translation

Zur Besänftigung von Heimsuchungen und Seuchen, und als śānti-Ritus (propitiatorische Friedenshandlung), soll man die Devas und die brahmanischen Weisen verehren. Danach gebe man eine kapilā-Kuh (falbfarben) zusammen mit Juwelen als Gabe.

Word by Word

• गजः: the elephant
• गजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उपसर्गव्याधीनाम्: of epidemic/contagious diseases
• उपसर्गव्याधीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘उपसर्गरूपाणां व्याधीनाम्’

• शमनम्: pacification/cure
• शमनम्: Karma/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• शान्तिकर्म: rite of appeasement
• शान्तिकर्म: Karma/Phala (Act/result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘शान्त्यर्थं कर्म’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √पूज् (पूजायाम्) (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having worshipped)

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विप्रान्: brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• रत्नैः: with jewels
• रत्नैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कपिलाम्: tawny/brown
• कपिलाम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ददेत्: should give
• ददेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (दाने) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śānti-karman: ritual appeasement plus dāna to mitigate afflictions; aligning with devas and brāhmaṇas to restore order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as upāya for saṃsāric disturbances; purification through offering and generosity.

Application: In crises (disease outbreaks/afflictions), combine practical care with community-supporting acts: worship, honoring learned persons, and charitable giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.201.36 (bali and protective worship)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Vipras (Brahmins)

FAQs

What is the importance of śānti-karma (peace rites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents śānti-karma as a dharmic method to pacify collective afflictions and diseases, combining worship (pūjā) with charitable giving (dāna) to restore harmony.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on suffering and relief?

It frames suffering such as upasarga-vyādhi as something that can be mitigated through prescribed religious conduct—honoring Devas and learned Vipras and performing meritorious donations—consistent with the text’s emphasis on karma and remedial rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support sincere spiritual practice and ethical charity—honor genuine teachers/priests, participate in peace prayers, and give responsibly to aid welfare—treating dāna as a disciplined, compassionate act rather than mere transaction.