Shloka 18

Devanagari script

सौवर्चलं सैन्धवञ्च विडङ्गौद्भिदमेव च / सामुद्रेण समं पञ्चलवणान्यत्र योजयेत्

Transliteration

sauvarcalaṃ saindhavañca viḍaṅgaudbhidameva ca / sāmudreṇa samaṃ pañcalavaṇānyatra yojayet

Translation

Combine in equal measure sauvarcala salt, saindhava (rock salt), viḍaṅga-salt, udbhida (mineral) salt, and samudra (sea) salt—thus are prepared the five salts to be used here.

Word by Word

• sauvarcalam: sauvarcala salt
• sauvarcalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sauvarcala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• saindhavam: rock salt
• saindhavam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saindhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• viḍaṅga-udbhidam: viḍaṅga-udbhida (a kind of salt/alkali)
• viḍaṅga-udbhidam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viḍaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (udbhida-type salt/alkali associated with viḍaṅga)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (only/indeed)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• sāmudreṇa: with sea-salt
• sāmudreṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• samam: equally/together
• samam: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत्; ‘समम्’ = equally, together

• pañca-lavaṇāni: the five salts
• pañca-lavaṇāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘five salts’)

• atra: here/in this (recipe)
• atra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here/in this preparation)

• yojayet: should mix/add
• yojayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष? actually 3rd person singular; एकवचन; causative sense ‘to add/compose’ in recipe

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right measure (samatā) in compounding remedies; disciplined formulation as a form of practical wisdom.

Vedantic Theme: Samatva (balance) applied to embodied life; harmony of elements supports clarity and steadiness.

Application: Prepare pañca-lavaṇa by mixing sauvarcala, saindhava, viḍaṅga-lavaṇa, udbhida-lavaṇa, and samudra-lavaṇa in equal parts for indicated therapeutic use.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (continuation of Ayurvedic formulations; pañca-lavaṇa used in digestive and anorectal contexts)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of pañca-lavaṇa (five salts) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes a specific equal-proportion blend of five salts, indicating a recognized traditional formulation used as a base for therapeutic application in the chapter’s medical context.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings beyond afterlife topics?

It shows the text also preserves practical dharma-oriented life guidance, including health remedies, alongside its well-known teachings on death rites and the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights careful proportioning and precise identification of ingredients; any modern use should be guided by a qualified practitioner due to variations in salt types and dosage.