Shloka 10

Ṛtucaryā, Āhāra–Aushadha Prayoga, Viṣa-haraṇa, and Mantra Procedures

Devanagari script

मनः शिला शङ्खचूर्णं तैलपक्वं तथैव च / लोमानि शातयत्येव नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

manaḥ śilā śaṅkhacūrṇaṃ tailapakvaṃ tathaiva ca / lomāni śātayatyeva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

Realgar (manah-śilā), conch-shell powder, and a depilatory prepared by cooking in oil—these indeed remove the hairs; there is no need for further deliberation.

Word by Word

• मनःशिला: manaḥśilā (realgar)
• मनःशिला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनः-शिला (प्रातिपदिक; मनः, शिला)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मनःशिला’ (realgar)

• शङ्खचूर्णम्: conch-shell powder
• शङ्खचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख-चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; शङ्ख, चूर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘शङ्खस्य चूर्णम्’ (conch-shell powder)

• तैलपक्वम्: cooked in oil
• तैलपक्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैल-पक्व (प्रातिपदिक; तैल, पक्व = √पच् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘तैलेन पक्वम्’ (cooked/processed in oil)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लोमानि: hairs
• लोमानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘hairs’

• शातयति: causes to fall off/destroys
• शातयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शातय् (धातु; √शत्/शा? causative denom. ‘to cause to fall/kill off’)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; कारणार्थक (causative/denominative sense)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कार्या: necessary
• कार्या: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय—‘to be done/necessary’

• विचारणा: consideration
• विचारणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘consideration/deliberation’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Skillful means (upāya) applied to bodily concerns; however, potency implies the need for restraint and proper method.

Vedantic Theme: Engagement with bodily modification as secondary; discernment (viveka) in using powerful agents.

Application: Realgar (manaḥśilā), conch-shell powder, and an oil-cooked preparation are stated to remove hair; implies a depilatory formulation requiring expert handling.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.182 (cosmetic/chemical preparations)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of these substances in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse lists specific materials used for bodily preparation/cleansing, emphasizing their practical effectiveness and implying a standardized method within ritual contexts.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s afterlife narrative?

In the Preta Kanda’s broader discussion of death-related observances, such practical instructions support the performance of rites that accompany the transition of the departed and the conduct of prescribed procedures.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights that ritual practice often includes concrete, method-based steps; for modern practice, follow qualified tradition/medical safety guidance rather than experimenting with hazardous substances.