Shloka 3

Therapeutic Formulations for Glandular Swelling, Skin Diseases, Heat-Afflictions, Bleeding Disorders, Respiratory Complaints, and Vomiting

Devanagari script

माहिषं नवनीतञ्च अश्वगन्धा च पिप्पली / वचा कुष्ठद्वयं लेपो लिङ्गस्रोतस्तनार्तिहृत्

Transliteration

māhiṣaṃ navanītañca aśvagandhā ca pippalī / vacā kuṣṭhadvayaṃ lepo liṅgasrotastanārtihṛt

Translation

Buffalo ghee and fresh butter, together with aśvagandhā and pippalī, and a paste of vacā with the two kinds of kuṣṭha—this sacred unguent, when applied, relieves pain and disorders of the genital channels and the breasts.

Word by Word

• माहिषम्: buffalo (product)
• माहिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक (buffalo-product)

• नवनीतम्: fresh butter
• नवनीतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवनीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अश्वगन्धा: aśvagandhā (Withania)
• अश्वगन्धा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वगन्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पिप्पली: long pepper
• पिप्पली: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिप्पली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिनाम

• वचा: sweet flag (vacā)
• वचा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिनाम

• कुष्ठद्वयम्: two kinds of kuṣṭha (herb)
• कुष्ठद्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुष्ठयोः द्वयम्)

• लेपः: a paste/application
• लेपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• लिङ्गस्रोतस्तनार्तिहृत्: remover of pains of genital channels and breasts
• लिङ्गस्रोतस्तनार्तिहृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रोतस् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हृत् (कृदन्त; √हृ (धातु) क्तिन्/क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘हृत्’ = हरति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास: ‘लिङ्ग-स्रोतस्-स्तन-आर्ति’ इत्यस्य ‘हृत्’ (हरक)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deha-dhāraṇa (maintenance of the body) as a support for righteous living and household duties.

Vedantic Theme: Śarīra as an instrument (karaṇa) for puruṣārtha; care of the body enables sādhana and duty.

Application: Use specified lepa (topical paste) with indicated ingredients for genital-channel and breast pain/disorders under competent guidance; emphasize measured, hygienic application.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.190 (Ayurveda/auṣadha-prayoga context)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of medicinal lepa (herbal paste) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the text’s practical therapeutic side—preserving bodily health through specific herbal formulations, including topical pastes (lepa) aimed at relieving localized pain and channel-related disorders.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the afterlife here; instead, it supports dharmic living by maintaining health, which the Garuda Purana treats as part of sustaining one’s duties and disciplined life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a historical reference to classical herbal combinations; for real treatment, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, especially for reproductive or breast-related conditions.