Shloka 51

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

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

Devanagari script

त्रिवृद्धरीतकीश्यामाः स्नुहीक्षीरेण भाविताः / वटिका मूत्रपीतास्ताः श्रेष्टाश्चानाहभेदिकाः

Transliteration

trivṛddharītakīśyāmāḥ snuhīkṣīreṇa bhāvitāḥ / vaṭikā mūtrapītāstāḥ śreṣṭāścānāhabhedikāḥ

Translation

Pills made from trivṛt, harītakī, and śyāmā, impregnated with the milky latex of snuhī, and taken with urine as the drink—these are esteemed as excellent for breaking up ānāha, obstructed abdominal distension.

Word by Word

• त्रिवृत्-हरीतकी-श्यामाः: trivṛt, harītakī, and śyāmā
• त्रिवृत्-हरीतकी-श्यामाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + हरीतकी (प्रातिपदिक) + श्यामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (औषधिद्रव्यसमूह)

• स्नुही-क्षीरेण: with snuhī-milk (latex)
• स्नुही-क्षीरेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नुही (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्नुह्याः क्षीरम्)

• भाविताः: processed (by soaking/impregnating)
• भाविताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'impregnated/processed'

• वटिकाः: tablets
• वटिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मूत्र-पीताः: taken with urine (as anupāna)
• मूत्र-पीताः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पीत (पा-धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मूत्रेण पीताः/मूत्रसहितं पीताः)

• ताः: those
• ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रेष्टाः: excellent
• श्रेष्टाः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; गुणवाचक

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

• अनाह-भेदिकाः: breaking/relieving abdominal distension (anāha)
• अनाह-भेदिकाः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाह (प्रातिपदिक) + भेदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अनाहं भिनत्ति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When obstruction is severe, stronger measures may be warranted under discipline and guidance; efficacy depends on proper bhavana (impregnation) and vehicle.

Vedantic Theme: Skillful means (upaya) varies by condition; intensity must match the obstruction—analogous to stronger sadhana for entrenched vasanas.

Application: Prepare vatika with specified drugs, bhavita in snuhi kshira; administer with appropriate anupana as taught—only with competent supervision due to potency/toxicity risk.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (anaha-bhedana, strong formulations; bhavana with kshira/latex)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of ānāha in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats ānāha (obstructed abdominal distension) as a serious vāta-related condition and gives a classical pill-formulation to ‘break’ the obstruction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the after-death journey here; instead, it preserves practical Ayurvedic knowledge within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue, showing the Purana’s scope beyond funerary themes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a text reference, it highlights purgative-based management of obstruction; in practice, such formulations should only be considered under qualified Ayurvedic supervision due to potent ingredients like snuhī-latex.