Shloka 23
मनोहरश्चानुदिनं दूर्वाणां काकजङ्घाया / अर्जुनस्य तु पुष्पाणि जम्बूपत्रयुतानि च / सलोध्राणि च तल्लेपो देहदुर्गन्धतां हरेत्
manoharaścānudinaṃ dūrvāṇāṃ kākajaṅghāyā / arjunasya tu puṣpāṇi jambūpatrayutāni ca / salodhrāṇi ca tallepo dehadurgandhatāṃ haret
A daily body-paste made from fragrant dūrvā grass and the herb called kāka-jaṅghā, together with arjuna-flowers, jambū leaves, and lodhra, removes foul body-odour.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Śauca (purity) and bodily upkeep as supportive to a sattvic life and ritual/social propriety.
Vedantic Theme: Body as an instrument (śarīra-sādhana) to support dharma and spiritual practice; moderation and cleanliness aid sattva.
Application: Prepare a daily body-paste (lepa/udvartana) using dūrvā, kāka-jaṅghā, arjuna flowers, jambū leaves, and lodhra to reduce body odor.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.190 (Ayurveda/gandha-lepa/udvartana and seasonal afflictions context)
FAQs
This verse treats bodily cleanliness and pleasantness as part of āchāra (right conduct), recommending a daily herbal lepa to remove foul odour and maintain purity.
Indirectly: by emphasizing disciplined āchāra in embodied life, it supports sattvic living—seen in the Purana tradition as beneficial for spiritual progress and post-death well-being.
Adopt daily cleanliness as a dharmic discipline; if using herbal pastes, choose safe, skin-appropriate traditional ingredients (or equivalents) with the intent of purity and self-restraint.