Shloka 7

Devanagari script

शिरो ऽभ्यङ्गाच्छिराजन्मयूकालिख्याः क्षयं नयेत् / नवदग्धं शङ्खचूर्णं घृष्टसीसकलेपितम्

Transliteration

śiro 'bhyaṅgācchirājanmayūkālikhyāḥ kṣayaṃ nayet / navadagdhaṃ śaṅkhacūrṇaṃ ghṛṣṭasīsakalepitam

Translation

By oil-massage of the head, lice and their eggs that arise on the scalp are destroyed. Apply as a paste freshly calcined conch-shell powder, smeared with finely rubbed lead.

Word by Word

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभ्यङ्गात्: from oil-massage
• अभ्यङ्गात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिराजन्मयूकालिख्याः: of head-born lice (and nits)
• शिराजन्मयूकालिख्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरा (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्म (प्रातिपदिक) + यूका (प्रातिपदिक) + लिख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिराजन्म-यूका-लिख्या = ‘head-born lice/eggs’ as a class)

• क्षयम्: destruction
• क्षयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नयेत्: should bring about
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नवदग्धम्: freshly burnt
• नवदग्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + दग्ध (कृदन्त; √दह् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—क्त (burnt); कर्मधारय (नवं दग्धम्)

• शङ्खचूर्णम्: conch-shell powder
• शङ्खचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शङ्खस्य चूर्णम्)

• घृष्टसीसकलेपितम्: smeared after rubbing with lead
• घृष्टसीसकलेपितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृष्ट (कृदन्त; √घृष् धातु) + सीसक (प्रातिपदिक) + लेपित (कृदन्त; √लिप् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्तौ—क्त; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सीसकेन घृष्टं, तेन लेपितम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, within an instructional section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Shauca (cleanliness) and regular care prevent infestation and disorder.

Vedantic Theme: Orderliness (sattva) supports steadiness of mind; bodily neglect agitates the mind.

Application: Perform head oil-massage to destroy lice and nits; apply freshly calcined conch-shell powder mixed into a paste with rubbed lead (as stated in the verse).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.176 (head/scalp care: massage, powders, mineral adjuncts)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of head oiling (śiro-abhyanga) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents śiro-abhyanga as a practical hygiene measure that helps eliminate lice and nits, showing the text’s emphasis on daily conduct and bodily upkeep alongside spiritual teaching.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to an instructional passage on disciplined living (ācāra), implying that orderly, clean habits support dharmic life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt regular scalp care (including oil-massage) and treat infestations promptly; interpret the listed substances as a historical remedy and follow safe, modern medical guidance for any topical applications.