Shloka 12

Devanagari script

शाल्मलीरसमादाय खरमूत्रे निधाय तम् / अग्नयादौ विक्षिपेत्तेन ह्यग्निस्तम्भनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

śālmalīrasamādāya kharamūtre nidhāya tam / agnayādau vikṣipettena hyagnistambhanamuttamam

Translation

Taking the sap of the śālmalī tree and placing it in donkey’s urine, one should sprinkle it upon fire and the like; by that, an excellent means of arresting (or quenching) fire is achieved.

Word by Word

• शाल्मलीरसम्: juice of the śālmalī tree
• शाल्मलीरसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्मली (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śālmalīyāḥ rasaḥ)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• खरमूत्रे: in donkey’s urine
• खरमूत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खरमूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kharasya mūtram)

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• तम्: that (mixture)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अग्नौ: in/onto the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• आदौ: at first, initially
• आदौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘at the beginning/first’ (adverbial use)

• विक्षिपेत्: should scatter/throw
• विक्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तेन: by/with that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• अग्निस्तम्भनम्: fire-stopping (extinguishing)
• अग्निस्तम्भनम्: Karta/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्भन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Restraint of destructive forces through prescribed means; safeguarding life and property.

Vedantic Theme: Regulation of guṇas/elements (bhūtas) through disciplined action; order (ṛta/dharma) over chaos.

Application: Fire-safety orientation: keep quenching agents ready; interpret as traditional fire-stopping lore rather than a substitute for proper firefighting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.182 (agni-stambhana procedures)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the purpose of agni-stambhana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a practical ritual remedy aimed at restraining or quenching fire, indicating the text’s inclusion of protective procedures alongside spiritual instruction.

How does this verse fit the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue style of the Garuda Purana?

It reads like an instructional passage where Vishnu teaches Garuda a specific procedure, reflecting the Purana’s didactic format of concise, practice-oriented guidance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a takeaway, it highlights the tradition of combining natural substances with ritual intent for protection; in modern life, treat it as historical ritual knowledge while relying on safe, contemporary fire-safety methods.