Shloka 28

Devanagari script

तैलं लाघवदार्ढ्याय क्रूरकोष्ठेषु देहिषु / वातातपाम्बुभारस्त्रीव्यायामक्षीणधातुषु

Transliteration

tailaṃ lāghavadārḍhyāya krūrakoṣṭheṣu dehiṣu / vātātapāmbubhārastrīvyāyāmakṣīṇadhātuṣu

Translation

Oil (oleation) is to be given to bring about lightness and firmness in those of harsh, bound bowels; and also in those whose bodily tissues (dhātu) are depleted by vāta, by sun and heat, by excess water intake, by heavy loads, by sexual activity, and by strenuous exercise.

Word by Word

• tailam: oil
• tailam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• lāghava-dārḍhyāya: for lightness and firmness
• lāghava-dārḍhyāya: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāghava (प्रातिपदिक) + dārḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (लाघवम् + दार्ढ्यम्), प्रयोजनार्थे दत्तिः (for the purpose of)

• krūra-koṣṭheṣu: in persons with hard bowels/constipation
• krūra-koṣṭheṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krūra (प्रातिपदिक) + koṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (क्रूरः कोष्ठः = ‘hard/constipated bowel’)

• dehiṣu: in embodied beings/persons
• dehiṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dehin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन

• vāta-ātapa-ambu-bhāra-strī-vyāyāma-kṣīṇa-dhātuṣu: in those whose tissues are depleted due to wind, sun, water, burden, sex, and exercise
• vāta-ātapa-ambu-bhāra-strī-vyāyāma-kṣīṇa-dhātuṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātapa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣīṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √kṣi + kta) + dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वात-आतप-अम्बु-भार-स्त्री-व्यायाम-क्षीण-धातु = ‘one whose dhātus are depleted by wind, sun, water, burden, women/sexual activity, and exercise’); ‘धातुषु’ locative plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rebuilding depleted dhātus and stabilizing vāta through appropriate oleation, especially in harsh-bowel constitutions and overstrained bodies.

Vedantic Theme: Moderation (mātrā) and balance—right use of resources to sustain the instrument of practice.

Application: Use oil-based oleation (internal/external as appropriate) for constipation/krūra-koṣṭha and for depletion from heat, exertion, load-bearing, sexual excess, and overexercise.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173.26-27 (ghṛta and kapha modifications); Garuda Purana 1.173.29 (obstruction/dryness and procedures)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of taila (oil therapy) in Garuda Purana?

The verse presents taila as strengthening and stabilizing, especially when vāta is aggravated and tissues are depleted—conditions where unctuousness counters dryness and weakness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not discuss afterlife themes; it provides health guidance aimed at maintaining the body, which is treated as a support for dharma and disciplined living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It points to rest, nourishment, and appropriate unctuous care when overexertion and heat exposure cause depletion; specific oil use should be individualized by a clinician.