Shloka 10

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

Hair Growth, Greying Reversal, Head & Ear Remedies

Devanagari script

आम्रास्थिमज्जा त्रिफला नी (ता) ली च भृङ्ग राजकम् / जीर्णं पक्वं लोहचूर्णं काञ्जिकं कृष्णकेशकृत्

Transliteration

āmrāsthimajjā triphalā nī (tā) lī ca bhṛṅga rājakam / jīrṇaṃ pakvaṃ lohacūrṇaṃ kāñjikaṃ kṛṣṇakeśakṛt

Translation

Marrow from the mango-kernel, triphalā, nīlī (or tālī), and bhr̥ṅgarāja—together with well-aged sour kāñjika and properly prepared iron powder—are said to make the hair black.

Word by Word

• आम्रास्थिमज्जा: marrow of mango-stone (seed)
• आम्रास्थिमज्जा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आम्रस्य अस्थ्नः मज्जा)

• त्रिफला: Triphala (three-fruit formulation)
• त्रिफला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि फलानि यस्याः)

• नीली: indigo plant (nīlī)
• नीली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• भृङ्गराजकम्: bhringaraja (Eclipta alba)
• भृङ्गराजकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गराजक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जीर्णम्: old/aged
• जीर्णम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (कृदन्त; √जॄ/जॄण् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• पक्वम्: ripe/cooked
• पक्वम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्व (कृदन्त; √पच् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• लोहचूर्णम्: iron powder
• लोहचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोहस्य चूर्णम्)

• काञ्जिकम्: sour gruel (kanjika)
• काञ्जिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्जिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कृष्णकेशकृत्: making the hair black
• कृष्णकेशकृत्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णान् केशान् करोति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body as a support for life and religious duties; preservation of vitality through proper remedies.

Vedantic Theme: Śarīra as an instrument (sādhana) for puruṣārthas; sattvic maintenance enabling japa, vrata, and service.

Application: Use a traditional hair-darkening formulation with iron and fermented medium under competent guidance; emphasize safe preparation and dosage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.176 (Ayurveda/auṣadha section; hair and head remedies context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of kāñjika and loha-cūrṇa in this Garuda Purana hair formula?

The verse highlights fermented kāñjika as a processing medium and loha-cūrṇa (iron powder) as an added ingredient, together presented as contributing to kṛṣṇa-keśa-kṛt—promoting black hair.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not; it is a health/cosmetic prescription section rather than a teaching on preta-gati, karma, or Yama’s punishments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It preserves a classical ingredient list associated with hair darkening (triphala, bhringraj, indigo/variant, fermented medium, iron), useful for historical/ayurvedic study; safe preparation requires expert guidance.