Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

धत्तूरकरसोन्मिश्रं क्षीराद्यगुडपानतः / शूनां विषं विनश्येत्तु शशाङ्काङ्कितशेखर

Transliteration

dhattūrakarasonmiśraṃ kṣīrādyaguḍapānataḥ / śūnāṃ viṣaṃ vinaśyettu śaśāṅkāṅkitaśekhara

Translation

O Śaśāṅkāṅkitaśekhara (Śiva, whose crest bears the moon), by drinking jaggery mixed with milk and the juice of dhattūra, the poison of a dog is destroyed.

Word by Word

• dhattūra: dhattūra (datura)
• dhattūra: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhattūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), in compound (पूर्वपद)

• rasa: juice
• rasa: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), in compound (मध्यपद)

• unmiśram: mixed with dhattūra-juice
• unmiśram: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhattūra+rasa+unmiśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (dhattūrasyā rasaḥ tena unmiśram/miśritam)

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

• ādi: etc., and the like
• ādi: Sambandha (Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya used as suffix-like indeclinable meaning 'etc./and the like'

• guḍa: jaggery
• guḍa: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), in compound (मध्यपद)

• pānataḥ: from drinking milk etc. with jaggery
• pānataḥ: Hetu/Apādāna (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra+ādi+guḍa+pāna (प्रातिपदिक; √pā in noun)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana (singular); समासः तत्पुरुषः (kṣīrādeḥ guḍasya pānam)

• śūnām: of dogs
• śūnām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठī), Bahuvacana (plural)

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

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

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle)

• śaśāṅka: moon
• śaśāṅka: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśāṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), in compound (पूर्वपद)

• aṅkita: marked/adorned
• aṅkita: —
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √aṅk (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त), in compound (मध्यपद)

• śekhara: O one whose crest is marked with the moon
• śekhara: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśāṅka+aṅkita+śekhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Sambodhana (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana (singular); समासः बहुव्रीहिः (yasya śekharaḥ śaśāṅkena aṅkitaḥ saḥ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correctly compounded ingestion (pāna) can neutralize specific toxins; naming the deity frames knowledge as received and trustworthy.

Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā in śāstra-guided practice: disciplined application of taught means reduces suffering.

Application: Prepare and drink jaggery mixed with milk and dhattūra juice as stated for dog-poison (noting dhattūra itself is potent and traditionally handled with care).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.191.19 (dog-poison context); Garuda Purana 1.191.16-18 (antidote series)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of poison-remedy verses in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a practical antidotal formulation, showing that the Garuda Purana preserves not only afterlife teachings but also traditional therapeutic guidance connected to dharma and protection of life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing preservation of life through antidotes, it supports the broader Purāṇic aim of sustaining the body so one can fulfill duties (dharma) before death and the after-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical traditional reference; in real cases of animal bite or suspected poisoning, seek immediate modern medical care, while understanding the verse as part of classical detox/antidote literature.