Shloka 8

Devanagari script

काकजङ्घा वचा कुष्ठं निम्बपत्रं सुकुङ्कुमम् / आत्मरक्तसमायुक्तं वशी भवति मानवः

Transliteration

kākajaṅghā vacā kuṣṭhaṃ nimbapatraṃ sukuṅkumam / ātmaraktasamāyuktaṃ vaśī bhavati mānavaḥ

Translation

With kākajaṅghā, vacā, kuṣṭha, neem leaves, and fine saffron—combined with one’s own blood—a person becomes able to bring others under control.

Word by Word

• काकजङ्घा: crow’s shank (a herb)
• काकजङ्घा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (काकस्य जङ्घा)

• वचा: sweet flag (Acorus)
• वचा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• कुष्ठम्: costus (a medicinal herb)
• कुष्ठम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• निम्बपत्रम्: neem leaf
• निम्बपत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्ब + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निम्बस्य पत्रम्)

• सुकुङ्कुमम्: good saffron/vermilion
• सुकुङ्कुमम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं कुङ्कुमम्)

• आत्मरक्तसमायुक्तम्: mixed with one’s own blood
• आत्मरक्तसमायुक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + रक्त + सम्-युक्त (युज् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आत्मनः रक्तेन सम्यक् युक्तम्)

• वशी: one who has control (subjugating)
• वशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मानवः: a man
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Manipulative rites (vaśīkaraṇa) as a form of action with consequential ethical weight.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha through desire and agency (kāma/ahaṅkāra) versus inner mastery; external control contrasts with self-control.

Application: Read as a cautionary example: prioritize self-discipline and consent; recognize that coercive intent accrues adverse karma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.178 (vaśīkaraṇa/abhicāra-mantra and dravya-yoga context)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of vashikaran-type rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse records a specific subjugation recipe using herbs and one’s own blood, showing that the text also catalogues ritual/occult practices alongside dharma teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the after-death journey; instead, it belongs to a practical-ritual strand of instruction, contrasting with other Garuda Purana sections on karma, preta-state, and Yama’s realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as historical documentation of ritual culture and herbal terminology; ethically, the takeaway is to prioritize self-control and dharmic conduct over attempts to control others.