Shloka 19
Viṣa-hara Yogas: Puṣya-Nakṣatra Remedies for Serpents, Stings, and Compounded Poisons
तल्लेपेन महादेव नश्येत्कुक्कुरजं विषम् / ज्वलिताग्निर्वारिसेको तथा दर्दुरजं विषम्
tallepena mahādeva naśyetkukkurajaṃ viṣam / jvalitāgnirvāriseko tathā dardurajaṃ viṣam
O Mahādeva, by applying that ointment the poison produced from a dog is destroyed; likewise, as water sprinkled upon a blazing fire, the poison produced from a frog is destroyed.
Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu as Mahadeva (honorific)
Concept: Specific causes require specific remedies; counteraction (pratipakṣa) neutralizes harm, like water quenching fire.
Vedantic Theme: Pratipakṣa-bhāvanā as a general principle: opposing forces can dissolve affliction in lived experience.
Application: Use the previously described ointment to counter dog-derived poison; for frog-derived poison, apply the indicated cooling/quenching measure likened to sprinkling water on fire (i.e., rapid cooling/neutralization).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.191.18 (the ‘that paste’ reference); Garuda Purana 1.191.20 (dog-poison remedy continues)
FAQs
This verse presents practical, tradition-based antidotal principles—specific applications (lepa) and counter-agents—showing the Purana’s role not only in afterlife doctrine but also in protective and remedial knowledge.
While much of the Garuda Purana addresses death, karma, and post-death states, it also includes applied dharma and protective lore; here it describes concrete methods to neutralize viṣa (poison), reflecting a broader concern for preserving life and health.
Treat it as a historical guideline: in real poisoning cases, seek immediate medical care; the takeaway is the principle of timely counter-measures (appropriate antidote and cooling/quenching action) rather than self-treatment.