Shloka 20
Ṛtucaryā, Āhāra–Aushadha Prayoga, Viṣa-haraṇa, and Mantra Procedures
ब्रह्मदण्डी तु पुष्येण भक्ष्ये पाने वशीकरः / यष्टि मधु पलैकेन पक्वमुष्णोदकं पिबेत्
brahmadaṇḍī tu puṣyeṇa bhakṣye pāne vaśīkaraḥ / yaṣṭi madhu palaikena pakvamuṣṇodakaṃ pibet
Brahmadaṇḍī (a ritual preparation) is said to confer vashīkara when used in food and drink, especially under the asterism Puṣya. One should drink warm boiled water mixed with one pala of yaṣṭī-madhu (licorice).
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Kāla (auspicious time) and dravya (substance) are treated as amplifiers of ritual effect; practical regimen accompanies ritual claim.
Vedantic Theme: Time-bound rites yield time-bound results; lasting freedom requires inner transformation beyond kāmyakarma.
Application: If following tradition, observe timing disciplines responsibly; separate ritual claims from health practices and use safe, evidence-aligned preparation for ingestion.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.182 (Puṣya timing; vashikarana via food/drink; adjunct practical instructions)
FAQs
This verse links the timing of a practice to Puṣya, indicating that certain ritual or medicinal acts are considered more effective when performed under specific lunar asterisms.
It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it appears in a practical ritual/medical instruction context, reflecting how the text also preserves applied disciplines alongside afterlife teachings.
As a general wellness takeaway, warm boiled water with licorice is traditionally used for soothing effects; for ritual claims like vaśīkaraṇa, practitioners typically seek guidance within their sampradāya and follow ethical restraint (dharma).