Shloka 2

Rasāyana for Longevity: Milk-Based Regimens, Triphalā, Palāśa, and Bhr̥ṅgarāja (Śrāvaṇa & Puṣya Observances)

Devanagari script

सक्षीरं भक्षीतं कुर्यात्सप्ताहेन वृषध्वज / नरं श्रुतिधरं रुद्र मृगेन्द्रगतिविक्रमम्

Transliteration

sakṣīraṃ bhakṣītaṃ kuryātsaptāhena vṛṣadhvaja / naraṃ śrutidharaṃ rudra mṛgendragativikramam

Translation

O Bull-bannered Lord (Vṛṣadhvaja), if one eats this preparation together with milk for a week, it makes a man—O Rudra—a bearer of sacred learning, endowed with the gait and valor of a lion.

Word by Word

• sakṣīram: with milk
• sakṣīram: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/सम्, उपसर्गार्थ) + kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (with milk)

• bhakṣītam: eaten; consumed
• bhakṣītam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhakṣ (धातु) → bhakṣita (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (having been eaten/when eaten)

• kuryāt: should make; would render
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• saptāhena: within seven days
• saptāhena: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक) + aha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (by/within seven days)

• vṛṣadhvaja: O Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• vṛṣadhvaja: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (he whose banner is the bull)

• naram: a man
• naram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• śrutidharam: one with retentive memory
• śrutidharam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (one who retains what is heard)

• rudra: O Rudra
• rudra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• mṛgendragativikramam: with lion-like gait and valor
• mṛgendragativikramam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (having the gait and prowess of a lion)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra, with a vocative reference to Rudra/Śiva within the verse)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bodily regimen can support śruti-dhāraṇā (retention of sacred learning) and heroic vitality.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi as support for jñāna: disciplined diet aiding memory, steadiness, and vigor.

Application: Follow a short, consistent course (seven days) with milk as anupāna (vehicle); pair study with regulated diet and rest.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.187.1 (hastikarṇa powder); Garuda Purana 1.187.3-4 (milk-based longevity/radiance claims)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of consuming a preparation with milk for seven days in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a week-long milk-associated regimen as a sādhana-like discipline said to produce tangible results: strengthened vitality and enhanced capacity to retain Śruti (scriptural learning).

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching?

Even within a text famous for afterlife teachings, the Garuda Purana also includes practical dharmic guidance—linking bodily discipline and dietary observances with inner refinement, learning, and merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a disciplined, time-bound routine (seven days) aimed at clarity and strength—pairing sattvic diet, consistent study, and restraint—so knowledge becomes retained (śruti-dhara) rather than merely heard.