Shloka 1

Keśa-vardhana, Pālitā-nāśa, Śiraḥ-roga and Karṇa-śūla Cikitsā

Hair Growth, Greying Reversal, Head & Ear Remedies

Devanagari script

नाम पञ्चसप्तत्युत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः श्रीभगवानुवाच / सप्तरात्रात्प्रजायन्ते खल्वाटस्य कचाः शुभाः / दग्धहस्तिदन्तलेपात्साजाक्षीररसाञ्जनात्

Transliteration

nāma pañcasaptatyuttaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ śrībhagavānuvāca / saptarātrātprajāyante khalvāṭasya kacāḥ śubhāḥ / dagdhahastidantalepātsājākṣīrarasāñjanāt

Translation

The Blessed Lord said: This is the one-hundred-and-seventy-sixth chapter. Within seven nights, auspicious hair arises for a bald person by applying, like anjana (sacred collyrium), a paste of burnt elephant tusk mixed with goat’s milk and its juice.

Word by Word

• नाम: (called) / now
• नाम: Discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक/उपोद्घातसूचक (introductory particle)

• पञ्चसप्तत्युत्तरशततमः: the one hundred seventy-fifth
• पञ्चसप्तत्युत्तरशततमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चसप्तति-उत्तर-शत-तम (प्रातिपदिक; 75 + beyond + 100 + ordinal suffix तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; ordinal ‘the 175th’

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• श्रीभगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• श्रीभगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक; श्री + भगवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘said’

• सप्तरात्रात्: after/from seven nights
• सप्तरात्रात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त-रात्र (प्रातिपदिक; सप्त + रात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative singular; ‘from seven nights’

• प्रजायन्ते: arise/are produced
• प्रजायन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘are produced/arise’ (with प्र-)

• खल्वाटस्य: of the bald person
• खल्वाटस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल्वाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• कचाः: hairs
• कचाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• शुभाः: auspicious/good
• शुभाः: Visheshana (Qualifier of कचाः/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• दग्धहस्तिदन्तलेपात्: from (using) paste of burnt elephant tusk
• दग्धहस्तिदन्तलेपात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दग्ध-हस्ति-दन्त-लेप (प्रातिपदिक; दग्ध + हस्ति + दन्त + लेप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; Ablative singular; ‘from the paste of burnt elephant-tusk’

• साजाक्षीररसाञ्जनात्: from goat-milk essence collyrium
• साजाक्षीररसाञ्जनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साजा-क्षीर-रस-अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक; साजा + क्षीर + रस + अञ्जन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; Ablative singular; ‘from collyrium made with goat-milk juice/essence’ (sājā = ajā ‘goat’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Śrī Bhagavān) instructing Garuda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Well-being and bodily upkeep are legitimate aims when pursued with proper means; faith in śāstra-guided remedies.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic use of the body as a vehicle; śāstra as pramāṇa for applied knowledge (vyavahāra) without claiming ultimate liberation.

Application: Topical application (añjana-like) of paste from burnt elephant tusk mixed with goat’s milk/juice for hair regrowth (as stated).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.176.2-4 (related hair-growth oils and lepas)

FAQs

What is the importance of hair-regrowth remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the Garuda Purana also preserves applied Ayurvedic procedures, including cosmetic and restorative treatments such as remedies for khalvāṭa (baldness).

How does this verse explain the method for hair growth?

It specifies a lepa/añjana-style application: calcined (burnt) elephant tusk prepared as a paste and combined with goat’s milk and juice, said to produce hair within seven nights.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical formulation; for real hair-loss care, use evidence-based dermatology or consult a qualified Ayurvedic physician before attempting any traditional preparations.