Shloka 11

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

पटोलं निम्बपत्रञ्च वचा चित्रकमेव च / पिप्पलीशृङ्गवेरञ्च चूर्णमेकत्र कारयेत्

Transliteration

paṭolaṃ nimbapatrañca vacā citrakameva ca / pippalīśṛṅgaverañca cūrṇamekatra kārayet

Translation

Prepare a single powdered blend by combining patola, neem leaves, vacā, citraka, pippalī, and śṛṅgavera (dry ginger).

Word by Word

• paṭolam: pointed gourd (paṭola)
• paṭolam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭola (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• nimba-patram: neem leaf
• nimba-patram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimba + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• vacā: sweet-flag (vacā)
• vacā: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• citrakam: plumbago (citraka)
• citrakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• pippalī-śṛṅgaveraṃ: long pepper and ginger
• pippalī-śṛṅgaveraṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pippalī + śṛṅgavera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (pippalī ca śṛṅgaveraṃ ca)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• cūrṇam: powder
• cūrṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ekatra: together/in one place
• ekatra: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/समुच्चयवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in one place/together)

• kārayet: should have (it) made/prepare
• kārayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + ṇic (causative)
• Form: णिजन्त (causative), विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṃyoga (proper combination) and ekatva (single formulation) for targeted effect; knowledge as formulation.

Vedantic Theme: Yukti (reasoned method) in applied knowledge

Application: Prepare a single powdered compound from patola, neem leaves, vacā, citraka, pippalī, and śṛṅgavera for therapeutic use (likely wound/skin cleansing and doṣa-balancing).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.201.9-10 (wound cleansing/healing context; formulations preceding this powder)

FAQs

What is the importance of this herbal mixture in Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional instruction to combine specific herbs into a single chūrṇa (powder), indicating a purificatory/therapeutic preparation used within the text’s practical guidance sections.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like purification and ritual practice?

While not describing afterlife geography directly, it reflects the Purāṇic emphasis on bodily and ritual cleanliness through prescribed preparations, which supports dhārmic living and observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical formulation: if considering use, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for safe identification, proportions, and suitability.