Shloka 10

Devanagari script

भृङ्गराट् सहदेवा च वचा श्वेतापराजिता / तेनैव तिलकं कृत्वा त्रैलोक्यं वशतां नयेत्

Transliteration

bhṛṅgarāṭ sahadevā ca vacā śvetāparājitā / tenaiva tilakaṃ kṛtvā trailokyaṃ vaśatāṃ nayet

Translation

With bhṛṅgarāja, sahadevā, vacā, and white aparājitā, making a tilaka from these very herbs, one may bring the three worlds under one’s influence.

Word by Word

• भृङ्गराट्: bhṛṅgarāja (herb)
• भृङ्गराट्: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य-द्रव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम (herb)

• सहदेवा: sahadevī (herb)
• सहदेवा: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य-द्रव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहदेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• वचा: vacā (sweet flag)
• वचा: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य-द्रव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

• श्वेता-पराजिता: white aparājitā
• श्वेता-पराजिता: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य-द्रव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेता (प्रातिपदिक) + पराजिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘श्वेता पराजिता’ (white aparājitā)

• तेन: with that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘with that/therewith’

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

• तिलकम्: tilaka mark
• तिलकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/applied
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having made/applied’

• त्रै-लोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रै-लोक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘three worlds’

• वश-ताम्: into (one’s) control
• वश-ताम्: Karma-Pravachaniya (State/अवस्था)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of control/subjection’—वशताम् = ‘under (one’s) control’ (genitive of state)

• नयेत्: should bring
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should lead/bring’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Herbal tilaka is presented as a siddhi-producing rite capable of universal vaśyatā.

Vedantic Theme: Siddhi-aspiration (aiśvarya) contrasted with mokṣa; illustrates how power-seeking can distract from śānta goals.

Application: Read as allegory: disciplined use of knowledge (herbs/skills) can create wide influence; ethically channel influence toward protection and service, not domination.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-scope (conceptual)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.185.9, 1.185.11 (tilaka substances and method)

FAQs

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

The verse presents a specific tilaka formulation using named herbs, portraying tilaka as a ritualized, potency-bearing act intended to confer influence and protective authority.

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

It reflects the text’s pragmatic ritual layer—prescribing tangible substances and applications (like tilaka) as means to achieve desired outcomes, alongside its ethical and afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat such prescriptions as traditional ritual knowledge: if practiced, use safe, ethically sourced materials, avoid harmful “control” intentions, and focus on self-discipline, clarity, and auspicious conduct as the higher aim.