Shloka 19

Devanagari script

मूलन्तु काकजङ्घाया दुग्धपीतन्तु शोषनुत् / अश्वगन्धानागबलागुडमाषनिषेविणः / रूपं भवेद्यथा तद्वन्नवयौवनचारिणाम्

Transliteration

mūlantu kākajaṅghāyā dugdhapītantu śoṣanut / aśvagandhānāgabalāguḍamāṣaniṣeviṇaḥ / rūpaṃ bhavedyathā tadvannavayauvanacāriṇām

Translation

The root of kākajaṅghā, taken with milk, relieves wasting and dryness. One who regularly uses aśvagandhā and nāgabala, together with jaggery and black gram, attains a form and vigor like those who move about in fresh youth.

Word by Word

• मूलम्: root
• मूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle)

• काकजङ्घायाः: of kākajaṅghā (a plant; lit. crow’s shank)
• काकजङ्घायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—काकस्य जङ्घा

• दुग्धपीतम्: drunk with milk / taken with milk
• दुग्धपीतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुग्ध + पीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘पीत’; विशेषण (मूलम्)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle)

• शोषनुत्: dispelling wasting/consumption
• शोषनुत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोष + नुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—शोषं नुदति इति; विशेषण (मूलम्/औषधम्)

• अश्वगन्धानागबलागुडमाषनिषेविणः: of one who habitually consumes aśvagandhā, nāgabala, jaggery, and black gram
• अश्वगन्धानागबलागुडमाषनिषेविणः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वगन्धा + नागबला + गुड + माष + निषेविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—(अश्वगन्धा-नागबला-गुड-माष) निषेविणः = सेवनशीलस्य

• रूपम्: appearance, form
• रूपम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative link/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (comparative/conj.)

• तद्वत्: so, similarly
• तद्वत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• नवयौवनचारिणाम्: of those who move in fresh youth (i.e., youthful persons)
• नवयौवनचारिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव + यौवन + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासः—नवं यौवनं चरन्ति ये

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra, within a didactic section on health and conduct)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body through nourishing remedies to counter wasting and dryness; disciplined intake yields vigor.

Vedantic Theme: Body as an instrument (śarīra-sādhana) for dharma and sādhanā; moderation and right use of means.

Application: Adopt nourishing diet and restorative routines; consult qualified practitioners for herbal use; focus on sustainable vitality rather than vanity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household/vaidya setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.185 (auṣadha/rasāyana cluster)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of rasāyana (rejuvenation therapy) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents rasāyana as a dharmic support for sustaining strength and vitality, recommending specific herbs and foods to counter wasting and promote youthful vigor.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not address the post-death journey directly; instead, it belongs to an instructional section emphasizing bodily maintenance and vitality as part of disciplined living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the teaching as a guideline to value restorative diet and tonics; if considering herbs like aśvagandhā, follow qualified Ayurvedic/medical advice and prioritize moderation and routine.