Shloka 10

Remedial Formulas for Wounds (Vraṇa), Sinus/Fistula (Nāḍī-vraṇa), Swellings (Granthikā), and Bhūta/Graha Afflictions

Devanagari script

अगस्त्यपुष्पनस्यं वै समरीचं तु शूलहृत् / भुजङ्गचर्म वै हिङ्गु निम्बपत्रं तथा यवाः / गौरसर्षम एभिः स्याल्लेपो भूतहरः शिव

Transliteration

agastyapuṣpanasyaṃ vai samarīcaṃ tu śūlahṛt / bhujaṅgacarma vai hiṅgu nimbapatraṃ tathā yavāḥ / gaurasarṣama ebhiḥ syāllepo bhūtaharaḥ śiva

Translation

A paste made from agastya-flower nasya, black pepper, a pain-removing herb, snake-skin, hiṅgu (asafoetida), neem leaves, barley, and white mustard—when applied as a plaster—becomes, O Śiva, a Śiva-blessed remedy that drives away afflictive bhūtas (spirits).

Word by Word

• agastya-puṣpa-nasyam: nasal remedy made from Agastya flowers
• agastya-puṣpa-nasyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agastya (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + nasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (agastyasya puṣpasya nasya = nasal medicine from Agastya-flowers)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• sa-marīcam: together with pepper (marīca)
• sa-marīcam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa- (उपसर्ग/सह) + marīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘स’ उपसर्गार्थे (with)

• tu: and/but
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयबोधक अव्यय (particle: but/and)

• śūla-hṛt: pain-removing
• śūla-hṛt: Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛ (धातु) + hṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हृ-धातोः कृत् (क्विप्/कृदन्त) ‘हृत्’ = taking away; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (as predicate adjective)

• bhujaṅga-carma: snake-skin
• bhujaṅga-carma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhujaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + carman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (bhujaṅgasya carma = snake-skin)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• hiṅgu: asafoetida
• hiṅgu: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiṅgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• nimba-patram: neem leaf
• nimba-patram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimba (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (nimbasya patram = neem leaf)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (adverb/connector: likewise/also)

• yavāḥ: barley grains
• yavāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• gaura-sarṣapam: yellow mustard
• gaura-sarṣapam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaura (प्रातिपदिक) + sarṣapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (द्रव्यनाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (gauraḥ sarṣapaḥ = yellow mustard)

• ebhiḥ: with these
• ebhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• syāt: should be/should become
• syāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लकारः विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• lepaḥ: a paste/ointment
• lepaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• bhūta-haraḥ: spirit-removing
• bhūta-haraḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛ (धातु) + hara (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हृ-धातोः ण्वुल्/अच् (agent noun) ‘हर’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (bhūtān haraḥ = remover of spirits)

• śiva: O Śiva
• śiva: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Composite remedies (saṃyoga) can address both physical pain (śūla) and spirit-affliction (bhūta-doṣa), uniting somatic and subtle therapeutics.

Vedantic Theme: One order governing gross and subtle phenomena; disciplined action with right means yields protection and relief.

Application: Prepare lepa from listed ingredients; apply externally for bhūta-affliction and pain; treat as potent and follow traditional cautions (purity, dosage, supervision).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.188.9 (nasya for bhūta-vṛnda); Garuda Purana 1.188.6-8 (preceding compound remedies)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhutas

FAQs

What is the importance of a bhūta-hara lepa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a practical, ingredient-based protective remedy (lepa) intended to ward off bhūtas—understood as harmful spirit influences or subtle afflictions—framed as Śiva-auspicious.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it addresses protection and relief from troubling influences that can disturb mental and bodily well-being, which the text treats as relevant to dharmic living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It can be read as a traditional protection-and-healing formula emphasizing purifying substances (neem, hing, mustard). In practice today, one may adopt the ethical intent—maintaining cleanliness, calm, and prayer—while using safe, culturally appropriate remedies under proper guidance.