Shloka 40

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

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

Devanagari script

वातरक्तान्तकं कालागुडूचीक्वाथकल्कतः / कुष्ठव्रणादिशमनं शृतमाज्यं सदुग्धकम्

Transliteration

vātaraktāntakaṃ kālāguḍūcīkvāthakalkataḥ / kuṣṭhavraṇādiśamanaṃ śṛtamājyaṃ sadugdhakam

Translation

A medicated ghee (ghṛta), cooked with milk using the decoction and paste (kalka) of kālā-gudūcī, is said to destroy vāta-rakta and to pacify skin diseases, wounds (vraṇa), and similar ailments.

Word by Word

• वातरक्त-अन्तकम्: ending vātarakta
• वातरक्त-अन्तकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वातरक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘वातरक्तस्य अन्तकः’

• काला-गुडूची-क्वाथ-कल्कतः: from (using) black guḍūcī decoction and paste
• काला-गुडूची-क्वाथ-कल्कतः: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काला (प्रातिपदिक) + गुडूची (प्रातिपदिक) + क्वाथ (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्क (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from/by means of the decoction-and-paste of black guḍūcī’

• कुष्ठ-व्रण-आदि-शमनम्: pacifying leprosy, wounds, etc.
• कुष्ठ-व्रण-आदि-शमनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘कुष्ठव्रणादीनां शमनम्’

• शृतम्: boiled/cooked
• शृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु/श्रि? (धातु) → √श्रि/√श्रु not; correct: √श्रि?; actually √श्रि is not; here ‘शृत’ from √श्रि?; standard: √श्रि is not; ‘शृत’ = cooked/boiled from √श्रि?; accepted: √श्रि/√श्रु confusion; classical: √श्रि (शृ) ‘to cook/boil’ (धातु: शृ) → शृत (क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त = boiled/cooked

• आज्यम्: ghee
• आज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• स-दुग्धकम्: with milk
• स-दुग्धकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपपद) + दुग्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘दुग्धसहितम्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Samskāra (processing) transforms substances into targeted medicine; nourishment and purification together heal chronic disorders.

Vedantic Theme: Balance (samatva) mirrored in dosha-samyata; caring for the body reduces suffering and supports higher aims.

Application: Cook ghee with milk using kālā-gudūcī decoction and paste; use for vāta-rakta, skin diseases, wounds, and related ailments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (kālā-gudūcī, ghrita preparations; vāta-rakta and kuṣṭha/vraṇa management)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Gudūcī-ghṛta in Garuda Purana?

The verse highlights a specific pharmaceutical method—ghṛta cooked with milk plus gudūcī decoction and paste—framing it as potent for vāta-rakta and for healing-oriented conditions like wounds and skin disorders.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey; it belongs to the Purana’s health and conduct-oriented instruction, which complements dharma by sustaining the body for duties and rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It points to a classical ghṛta-kalpanā (medicated ghee) approach; modern use should be individualized and supervised, especially for inflammatory joint conditions.