Shloka 17

Viṣa-hara Yogas: Puṣya-Nakṣatra Remedies for Serpents, Stings, and Compounded Poisons

Devanagari script

दंशस्थानं वृश्चिकस्य शुण्ठी तगरसंयुता / नश्येन्मधुमक्षिकाया एतेषां लेपतो विषम्

Transliteration

daṃśasthānaṃ vṛścikasya śuṇṭhī tagarasaṃyutā / naśyenmadhumakṣikāyā eteṣāṃ lepato viṣam

Translation

If dry ginger mixed with tagara is applied to the site of a scorpion’s sting, then by smearing this paste the poison of a honey-bee sting is also destroyed.

Word by Word

• daṃśa: bite/sting
• daṃśa: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), in compound (पूर्वपद)

• sthānam: the place of the sting
• sthānam: Karma/Adhikaraṇa (Object/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃśa+sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (daṃśasya sthānam)

• vṛścikasya: of a scorpion
• vṛścikasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛścika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठī), Ekavacana (singular)

• śuṇṭhī: dry ginger
• śuṇṭhī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṇṭhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular)

• tagara: tagara (valerian)
• tagara: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: tagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), in compound (पूर्वपद)

• saṃyutā: combined (with)
• saṃyutā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-√yuj (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त), Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular); agreeing with śuṇṭhī

• naśyet: should perish
• naśyet: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √naś (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (singular)

• madhumakṣikāyāḥ: of a honey-bee
• madhumakṣikāyāḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhumakṣikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठī), Ekavacana (singular)

• eteṣām: of these (ingredients)
• eteṣām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठī), Bahuvacana (plural)

• lepataḥ: from smearing/application
• lepataḥ: Hetu/Apādāna (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana (singular)

• viṣam: poison
• viṣam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Applied knowledge (prayoga-jñāna) of substances and combinations neutralizes harm; correct formulation and application matter.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and yukti in worldly life (vyavahāra): right knowledge reduces suffering.

Application: Prepare a paste of śuṇṭhī with tagara and apply directly to the sting site; used for scorpion sting and also for honey-bee sting as stated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.191.16, 1.191.18-20 (same antidote section)

Characters & Entities

• Scorpion
• Honey-bee

FAQs

What is the importance of poison-remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the Garuda Purana also preserves practical protective knowledge—simple herbal applications (lepa) used to counteract venom in emergencies.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it focuses on preserving life through antidotal treatment, which supports dharma by enabling one to continue duties and rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a traditional reference, it points to topical herbal pastes for stings; in modern practice, treat stings promptly and seek medical care, using such measures only as culturally informed first-aid support where appropriate.