Shloka 13

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मदण्डीशिखा वक्त्रे क्षिप्ता शुक्रस्य स्तम्भनम् / मूलं जयन्त्या वक्त्रस्थं व्यवहारे जयप्रदम्

Transliteration

brahmadaṇḍīśikhā vaktre kṣiptā śukrasya stambhanam / mūlaṃ jayantyā vaktrasthaṃ vyavahāre jayapradam

Translation

If the crest-flower called Brahmadaṇḍī is placed in the mouth, it brings about the stoppage of semen. If the root of the herb Jayantī is kept in the mouth, it bestows victory in disputes and in all dealings.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मदण्डीशिखा: the crest/tip of the Brahma-daṇḍī (plant)
• ब्रह्मदण्डीशिखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मदण्डी + शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मदण्ड्याः शिखा)

• वक्त्रे: in the mouth/face
• वक्त्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• क्षिप्ता: thrown/placed
• क्षिप्ता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) → क्षिप्त (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः ‘having been thrown/placed’

• शुक्रस्य: of semen
• शुक्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• स्तम्भनम्: stoppage, arresting
• स्तम्भनम्: Karma/Phala (Object/Result)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाफल/भाववाचक

• मूलम्: root
• मूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जयन्त्या: with jayantī (plant)
• जयन्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयन्ती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• वक्त्रस्थम्: situated in the mouth
• वक्त्रस्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्त्र + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (वक्त्रे स्थितम्)

• व्यवहारे: in dealings/litigation
• व्यवहारे: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• जयप्रदम्: granting victory
• जयप्रदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/कर्म-तत्पुरुषः (जयम् प्रददाति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aushadhi-prayoga as upaya (means) for specific worldly outcomes; speech-mouth as locus of efficacy in ritual-technical acts.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavaharika-satta: engagement with empirical/ritual means within worldly reality, distinct from paramarthika liberation concerns.

Application: Use of specific plant parts as oral talismans: Brahmadaṇḍī for stambhana; Jayantī root for success in disputes—framed as prayoga rather than moral counsel.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.178 (aushadhi/tantrika-prayoga section continuing through 1.178.14–17)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Shukra
• Jayanti (herb)

FAQs

What is the importance of Jayantī root in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that keeping Jayantī’s root in the mouth is a traditional prayoga believed to grant victory in vyavahāra—arguments, negotiations, and legal disputes.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Alongside afterlife and dharma teachings, the Garuda Purana also preserves practical prayogas (applications) using herbs and ritual placements (like vaktrastha—kept in the mouth) aimed at specific worldly results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Ethically, it can be read as emphasizing disciplined speech and preparedness in disputes; if approached as a traditional remedy, it should be treated as historical/ritual knowledge and not as medical advice without qualified guidance.