Shloka 38

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

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

Devanagari script

नीलीमुण्डीरिकाचूर्णं मधुसर्पिः समन्वितम् / छिन्नाक्वाथं पिबन्हन्ति वातरक्तं सुदुस्तरम्

Transliteration

nīlīmuṇḍīrikācūrṇaṃ madhusarpiḥ samanvitam / chinnākvāthaṃ pibanhanti vātaraktaṃ sudustaram

Translation

Powder of nīlī and muṇḍīrikā, blended with honey and ghee (ghṛta), when drunk with a decoction of chinnā, destroys even the most difficult vāta-rakta (a gout-like affliction).

Word by Word

• नीली-मुण्डीरिका-चूर्णम्: powder of nīlī and muṇḍīrikā
• नीली-मुण्डीरिका-चूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीली (प्रातिपदिक) + मुण्डीरिका (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘नीली-मुण्डीरिकयोः चूर्णम्’

• मधु-सर्पिः: honey and ghee
• मधु-सर्पिः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; मधु च सर्पिः च (honey and ghee)

• समन्वितम्: mixed/combined
• समन्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अन्वि (धातु) → समन्वित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त = combined/associated

• छिन्ना-क्वाथम्: decoction of chinnā
• छिन्ना-क्वाथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिन्न (कृदन्त, क्त; √छिद्) + क्वाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘छिन्नः क्वाथः’ = decoction of chinnā (plant)

• पिबन्: while drinking
• पिबन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु) → पिबत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘drinking’ (converbial participle)

• हन्ति: destroys/alleviates
• हन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वातरक्तम्: vātarakta (gout-like disorder)
• वातरक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘वातेन रक्तेन च सम्बन्धि’ (disease: vātarakta)

• सुदुस्तरम्: very hard to overcome
• सुदुस्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘अतिदुस्तरम्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right combination (yukti) and anupana (vehicle) makes even difficult disease manageable.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta-like) reflected in disciplined method; correct means applied to suffering reduces duḥkha.

Application: Administer nīlī + muṇḍīrikā powder with honey and ghee; take with chinnā decoction as drink for Vāta-rakta.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (Vāta-rakta cikitsa cluster: ghrita, guggulu, gudūcī, triphalā-based measures)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of vāta-rakta in the Garuda Purana’s medical section?

The verse identifies vāta-rakta as a severe, difficult disease and preserves a specific compound regimen (powder + honey/ghee + decoction) as a targeted therapy.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not; it belongs to a therapeutic (Ayurvedic) passage, showing the Purana’s inclusion of practical health knowledge alongside spiritual teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a classical textual citation for traditional practice; because plant identifications and dosing are specialized, use only with qualified Ayurvedic/medical supervision.