Shloka 36

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

Fever, GI Disorders, Bleeding, Respiratory, Urinary, Swelling, and Wound Care

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मीरसवचाकुष्ठशङ्खपुष्पीभिरेव च / पुराणं सेव्यमुन्मादग्रहापस्मारद्घृनुतम्

Transliteration

brāhmīrasavacākuṣṭhaśaṅkhapuṣpībhireva ca / purāṇaṃ sevyamunmādagrahāpasmāradghṛnutam

Translation

With the juice of brāhmī, along with vacā, kuṣṭha, and śaṅkhapuṣpī, this aged and well-matured preparation should be used; it alleviates unmada (insanity), graha-affliction, and apasmāra (epilepsy).

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मीरसवचाकुष्ठशङ्खपुष्पीभिः: with brāhmī-juice, vacā, kuṣṭha, and śaṅkhapuṣpī
• ब्राह्मीरसवचाकुष्ठशङ्खपुष्पीभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक) + वचा (प्रातिपदिक) + कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + शङ्खपुष्पी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समाहार, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समुच्चय-द्वन्द्व (ब्राह्मी-रस- वचा- कुष्ठ- शङ्खपुष्पी)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात

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

• पुराणम्: old/aged (medicine) / purāṇa preparation
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सेव्यम्: to be used/should be taken
• सेव्यम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √सेव् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; भाव्य/कर्तव्य अर्थे (gerundive)

• उन्मादग्रहापस्मारघ्नुतम्: destroying insanity, seizures, and epilepsy
• उन्मादग्रहापस्मारघ्नुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्माद (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अपस्मार (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्नुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √हन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उन्मादं ग्रहं अपस्मारं च हन्ति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stabilizing mind (manas) and intellect (buddhi) through disciplined regimen and appropriate medicines; mental health as a dharmic support.

Vedantic Theme: Mind as instrument; reducing rajas/tamas to allow sattvic clarity; prana-manas linkage.

Application: Use brāhmī juice with vacā, kuṣṭha, and śaṅkhapuṣpī in a well-matured preparation for unmada, graha-affliction, and apasmāra (as appropriate).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (medhya and graha/apasmara formulations)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of brāhmī and śaṅkhapuṣpī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as key medhya (mind-supporting) herbs used in a mature formulation intended to reduce severe mental and neurological disturbances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey here; instead, it preserves practical dharmic life-supporting knowledge—medical remedies—within the Purana’s broader teaching context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a historical-scriptural reference for classical herb combinations; for actual treatment of epilepsy/psychosis, consult a qualified clinician and (if relevant) an Ayurvedic physician.