Shloka 18

Vashikarana–Stambhana Prayogas and Garbha-Sambhava Yogas

Devanagari script

वामाङ्गे दक्षिणाङ्गे च क्रमाद्रुद्र द्रवादिकृत् / चतुः षष्टि कलाः प्रोक्ताः कामशास्त्रे वशीकराः / आलिङ्गनाद्या नारीणां कमारीणां वशीकराः

Transliteration

vāmāṅge dakṣiṇāṅge ca kramādrudra dravādikṛt / catuḥ ṣaṣṭi kalāḥ proktāḥ kāmaśāstre vaśīkarāḥ / āliṅganādyā nārīṇāṃ kamārīṇāṃ vaśīkarāḥ

Translation

On the left side and on the right side—performed in proper sequence—there are acts such as “rudra-drava” and the like. In the Kāmaśāstra, sixty-four arts are taught as means of fascination and control; beginning with embracing and similar practices, they are said to be ways of captivating women and those engaged in amorous pursuits.

Word by Word

• वामाङ्गे: on the left side (limb)
• वामाङ्गे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वामस्य अङ्गे)

• दक्षिणाङ्गे: on the right side (limb)
• दक्षिणाङ्गे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणस्य अङ्गे)

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

• क्रमात्: in order; successively
• क्रमात्: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablatival adverb)

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• द्रवादिकृत्: O maker of liquids etc.
• द्रवादिकृत्: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रव + आदि + कृ (धातु) + कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृत्/कर्तरि), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (द्रव-आदि-कर्तृ)

• चतुः: four
• चतुः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; (here) षष्टि इत्यनेन सह संख्या-समुच्चयः

• षष्टि: sixty
• षष्टि: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (here) चतुः इत्यनेन सह 64

• कलाः: arts; techniques
• कलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: are declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (finite sense) ‘are said/declared’

• कामशास्त्रे: in the Kāmaśāstra
• कामशास्त्रे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (कामस्य शास्त्रे)

• वशीकराः: subjugating; bringing under control
• वशीकराः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशी + कृ (धातु) + अ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् कलाः इत्यस्य

• आलिङ्गनाद्याः: (arts) beginning with embracing
• आलिङ्गनाद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + लिङ्गन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (आलिङ्गनम् आदिः यसाम्)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• कमारीणाम्: of maidens/young women
• कमारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क + मारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; (पाठानुसार) ‘कमारी’ इति स्त्रीप्रातिपदिक

• वशीकराः: are subjugating
• वशीकराः: Kriya (Predicate/nominal)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशी + कृ (धातु) + अ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (आलिङ्गनाद्याः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstraic codification of kāma-kalā (64 arts) as means of attraction and influence (vaśīkaraṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Pravṛtti-mārga (worldly engagement) contrasted implicitly with nivṛtti; desire as a binding force when pursued as control.

Application: Treat the described practices as a cautionary example: cultivate consent, restraint, and ethical boundaries; avoid coercive ‘vaśīkaraṇa’ intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.178.19-22 (tilaka/mantra/dhūpa/lepa as vaśīkaraṇa means)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of the sixty-four arts (chatuḥ-ṣaṣṭi kalāḥ) in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse notes that Kāmaśāstra lists sixty-four arts as techniques connected with attraction and influence, framing them as structured practices rather than random indulgence.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader moral and spiritual instruction?

By mentioning fascination-based techniques, it implicitly contrasts worldly methods of control with the Purana’s larger emphasis on dharma, self-mastery, and right conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat desire-related skills and intimacy as matters requiring discipline and ethics—avoid manipulation, and prioritize consent, restraint, and dharmic responsibility.