Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

नीलीलज्जालुकामूलं पिष्टं तण्डुलवारिणा / पीतं तद्दंशकविषं नश्येदेकेन वोभयोः

Transliteration

nīlīlajjālukāmūlaṃ piṣṭaṃ taṇḍulavāriṇā / pītaṃ taddaṃśakaviṣaṃ naśyedekena vobhayoḥ

Translation

If the roots of nīlī and lajjālukā are ground with rice-water and then drunk, the poison arising from a bite or sting is destroyed; by this single remedy, both effects are removed.

Word by Word

• नीलीलज्जालुकामूलम्: the root of nīlī-lajjālukā (a plant)
• नीलीलज्जालुकामूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीली (प्रातिपदिक) + लज्जालुका (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—(नीली-लज्जालुका)स्य मूलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); ‘नीलीलज्जालुका’ इति वनस्पतिनाम

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

• तण्डुलवारिणा: with rice-water
• तण्डुलवारिणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक) + वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तण्डुलस्य वारि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• पीतम्: when drunk
• पीतम्: Condition (क्रियाविशेषणभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सेवितम्/पानं कृतम्’

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

• दंशकविषम्: the poison of a biter (bite-poison)
• दंशकविषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंशक (प्रातिपदिक) + विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—दंशकस्य विषम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नश्येत्: should perish/be destroyed
• नश्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• एकेन: by one (dose/means)
• एकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; (औषधेन) इति विशेषणम्

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse particle (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• उभयोः: of both (types)
• उभयोः: Sambandha/Adhikarana (Genitive/Locative sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन; अर्थे—‘of both / in both’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right combination and measured administration can neutralize harm efficiently.

Vedantic Theme: Skill in action (kauśala) as a facet of dharma; reducing suffering (duḥkha-nivṛtti) in embodied life.

Application: Grind roots of nīlī and lajjālukā with rice-water; drink to destroy bite/sting poison; ‘one’ remedy removes ‘both’ effects (interpretable as toxin + symptom complex, or two poisons).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.191.6-10 (continuing viṣa-hara formulations; repeated use of taṇḍulavāri as anupāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse preserves practical, tradition-linked therapeutic knowledge, presenting a specific herbal preparation as a single-step antidotal measure against bite/sting poison.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

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

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical textual remedy and not a substitute for emergency care; for suspected envenomation, seek immediate medical help while understanding this as part of the Garuda Purana’s traditional knowledge corpus.