Shloka 7

Vashikarana–Stambhana Prayogas and Garbha-Sambhava Yogas

Devanagari script

श्वेताप राजितामूलं पिष्टं रोचनया युतम् / यं पश्येत्तिलकेनैव वशी कर्यान्नृपालये

Transliteration

śvetāpa rājitāmūlaṃ piṣṭaṃ rocanayā yutam / yaṃ paśyettilakenaiva vaśī karyānnṛpālaye

Translation

The root of śvetāpa-rājitā, ground into a paste and mixed with rocanā, when applied as a tilaka—whomever one looks upon thereby is said to become submissive, even in a royal court.

Word by Word

• श्वेतापा: śvetāpā (a plant)
• श्वेतापा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेतापा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वनस्पति-नाम)

• राजितामूलम्: root of rājitā (plant)
• राजितामूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजिता + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (राजितायाः मूलम्)

• पिष्टम्: ground, made into paste
• पिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिष् (धातु) → पिष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मूलम्)

• रोचनया: with rocanā (yellow pigment)
• रोचनया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोचना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• युतम्: mixed/combined
• युतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पिष्टम्/मूलम्)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पश्येत्: should see
• पश्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तिलकेन: with a tilaka mark
• तिलकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• वशी: subjugated
• वशी: Kartṛ-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (सः implied)

• कार्यः: to be made (so)
• कार्यः: Kartṛ-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भविष्यत्कृदन्त/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘करनीयः’

• नृपालये: in the king's palace
• नृपालये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपालय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृपस्य आलयः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power gained through manipulation is ethically perilous; sacred markers (tilaka) should align with purity and devotion, not coercion.

Vedantic Theme: External marks without sattva are hollow; adharma masquerading as dharma deepens avidyā.

Application: Use symbols of faith for inner discipline and humility; avoid exploiting charisma/appearance to dominate others.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: royal-court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.178 (tilaka-based vaśīkaraṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Nṛpa (king)

FAQs

What is the importance of tilaka and rocanā in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse presents tilaka as a ritual-applied medium for efficacy; mixed with rocanā and a specific root paste, it is described as producing a vaśīkaraṇa (subduing) effect in social situations like a royal court.

How does this verse fit the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Alongside teachings on dharma and post-death rites, the text also preserves traditional prayoga-style instructions—herbal/ritual measures intended for protection or influence—framed as procedural knowledge conveyed in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Ethically, it can be read as a reminder that ritual symbols (like tilaka) were historically linked with intent and discipline; in modern practice, prioritize harmless devotional tilaka and avoid coercive uses that conflict with dharma.