Shloka 17

Devanagari script

घृतेन मधुना वापि अद्भिः खण्डगुडादिभिः / लवणैः कटुकैर्युक्तं यथालाभं च गेगनुत्

Transliteration

ghṛtena madhunā vāpi adbhiḥ khaṇḍaguḍādibhiḥ / lavaṇaiḥ kaṭukairyuktaṃ yathālābhaṃ ca geganut

Translation

It may be administered with ghee or honey, or with water, together with sugar, jaggery, and the like; combined with salts and pungent substances, and used as available—thus it becomes disease-dispelling.

Word by Word

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Instrumental singular (by/with ghee)

• मधुना: with honey
• मधुना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Instrumental singular (with honey)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय — disjunctive particle (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय — particle (also/even)

• अद्भिः: with water
• अद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (with waters)

• खण्डगुडादिभिः: with jaggery pieces and the like
• खण्डगुडादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड + गुड + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; ‘खण्डगुड-आदि’ = jaggery pieces etc.

• लवणैः: with salts
• लवणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (with salts)

• कटुकैः: with pungent (substances)
• कटुकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘लवणैः’/ingredients)

• युक्तम्: mixed/combined
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — past passive participle ‘combined/mixed’

• यथालाभम्: as available
• यथालाभम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास, अव्यय — adverbial ‘according to availability’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय — conjunction (and)

• गेगनुत्: (unclear drug name)
• गेगनुत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: (पाठदोष/अस्पष्ट) सम्भाव्यः: गगनुत्/गुग्गुलुत्/गुग्गुलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अस्पष्ट-पाठः; रूपनिर्णयः अनिश्चितः — unclear reading; likely a medicinal substance name

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yathālābha—use what is available appropriately for healing; right means for preserving the body as a support of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as sādhanā—care of the body as an instrument for puruṣārthas.

Application: Use accessible anupāna/vehicles (ghee, honey, water) and adjuncts (salt/pungent) to deliver medicine effectively, adapting to availability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.174 (Ayurveda/medicine section: medicated oils and formulations)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of ghee and honey in this Garuda Purana verse?

They are described as common carriers/adjuncts for administering remedies, showing awareness of how a medicine is taken (with ghṛta, madhu, or water) to support effectiveness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the afterlife narrative here; it focuses on practical healing methods, which the tradition treats as supportive for fulfilling dharma in embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

The takeaway is the concept of suitable carriers (ghee/honey/water) and supportive adjuncts (salt/pungent); apply only with professional guidance, especially since honey and ghee have specific compatibility rules in Ayurveda.