Shloka 70

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

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

Devanagari script

प्रलेपःश्लीपदं हन्ति चिरोत्थमतिदारुणम् / शोभाञ्जनकसिन्धृत्थहिङ्गुं विद्रधिनाशनम्

Transliteration

pralepaḥślīpadaṃ hanti cirotthamatidāruṇam / śobhāñjanakasindhṛtthahiṅguṃ vidradhināśanam

Translation

This medicinal paste destroys ślīpada (elephantiasis), even when long-standing and extremely severe. The combination including śobhāñjana, kasindhṛttha, and hiṅgu is said to eliminate vidradhi (abscess).

Word by Word

• प्रलेपः: a plaster/application
• प्रलेपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्लीपदम्: elephantiasis (ś्लीपद)
• श्लीपदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लीपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• हन्ति: destroys/removes
• हन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चिरोत्थम्: long-standing/chronic
• चिरोत्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिरोत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चिरात् उत्थम् = long-standing)

• अतिदारुणम्: very severe
• अतिदारुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिदारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण (अति + दारुण)

• शोभाञ्जनक: śobhāñjanaka (a medicinal plant)
• शोभाञ्जनक: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभाञ्जनक (प्रातिपदिक; शोभा+अञ्जनक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (plant-name)

• सिन्धृत्थ: sindhṛttha (a substance from Sindhu region)
• सिन्धृत्थ: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धृत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (substance-name; ‘from Sindhu’)

• हिङ्गुम्: asafoetida (as an ingredient)
• हिङ्गुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिङ्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमूहः (शोभाञ्जनक-सिन्धृत्थ-हिङ्गु)

• विद्रधि: abscess/boil
• विद्रधि: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्रधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग (disease-name)

• नाशनम्: destroying/remedying
• नाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; from √नश् धातु, णिच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विद्रधिनाशनम् = destroyer of abscess)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perseverance in right treatment can overcome entrenched suffering; do not despair at chronicity.

Vedantic Theme: Klesha-nivritti through sustained right effort (abhyasa) in the embodied domain.

Application: Treat chronic lymphatic/skin disorders with sustained, supervised care; combine topical and systemic approaches as appropriate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (skin/lymph disorders; vidradhi remedies; continuity with wound-healing verse 1.170.71)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of ślīpada remedies in the Garuda Purana?

By naming ślīpada and describing pralepa therapy, the text documents recognized chronic diseases and their traditional management.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This verse is not about preta-gati or Yama’s realm; it is a pragmatic medical instruction within the Purana’s encyclopedic material.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It suggests external paste-based interventions for chronic swelling and boils; apply only under expert guidance due to variability in identification and safety of ingredients.