Shloka 6

Devanagari script

महाकालस्य वै मूलं पिष्टं तत्काञ्जिकेन वै / वोड्राणां डुण्डुभानां च तल्लोपो हरते विषम्

Transliteration

mahākālasya vai mūlaṃ piṣṭaṃ tatkāñjikena vai / voḍrāṇāṃ ḍuṇḍubhānāṃ ca tallopo harate viṣam

Translation

The root of Mahākāla, ground and mixed with kāñjika (sour gruel), removes poison; and when applied, it also counteracts the poison that manifests as voḍrā and the venom of ḍuṇḍubha (serpent-poison).

Word by Word

• महाकालस्य: of Mahākāla
• महाकालस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + कालः (कर्मधारय)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—एव/खलु (emphasis)

• मूलम्: root
• मूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पिष्टम्: pounded/ground
• पिष्टम्: Karma qualifier (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; मूलम् इति विशेषणम्

• तत्काञ्जिकेन: with that sour gruel
• तत्काञ्जिकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + काञ्जिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तत् + काञ्जिकम् (तत्पुरुष)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—एव/खलु

• वोड्राणाम्: of the Voḍras (a people/region)
• वोड्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वोड्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• डुण्डुभानाम्: of the Ḍuṇḍubhas (a people/region)
• डुण्डुभानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डुण्डुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; लोपः इति विशेषणम्

• लोपः: removal/cessation
• लोपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हरते: removes
• हरते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• विषम्: poison
• विषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preservation of life through right knowledge and timely remedy is a dharmic act.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (welfare of beings) as an expression of righteous living; embodied life as a field for dharma.

Application: Use specified plant root paste with kāñjika as an antidotal application/administration for venom-related afflictions (including voḍrā/ḍuṇḍubha conditions).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.191 (viṣa-pratiṣedha/auṣadha section; adjacent verses 1.191.7-10 continue antidotes)

Characters & Entities

• Mahākāla (herb)
• kāñjika (sour gruel)
• viṣa (poison)
• ḍuṇḍubha (serpent)

FAQs

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

This verse preserves practical protective knowledge—stating that a specific herb (Mahākāla) prepared with kāñjika is used as an antidote, reflecting the Purana’s role as a guide for both spiritual and worldly welfare.

How does this verse relate to Garuda’s association with poisons and serpents?

Garuda is traditionally linked with overcoming serpent-poison; the verse fits that thematic stream by describing an antidotal preparation that ‘removes poison,’ including serpent-related afflictions (ḍuṇḍubha).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as historical textual evidence of traditional antidote lore; for real poisoning or snakebite, seek urgent medical care, while using the verse for study of classical Indian toxicology and ritual-protective traditions.