Shloka 15

Devanagari script

अपामार्गस्य वै मूले नारीणां शिरसि स्थिते / गर्भशूलं विनश्येत नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

apāmārgasya vai mūle nārīṇāṃ śirasi sthite / garbhaśūlaṃ vinaśyeta nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

If the root of apāmārga is placed upon a woman’s head, the pain arising in pregnancy is said to be destroyed—of this there is no need for further deliberation.

Word by Word

• अपामार्गस्य: of apāmārga
• अपामार्गस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपामार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (निपात/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• मूले: in/at the root
• मूले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• स्थिते: when placed/being placed
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था (धातु), क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध/locative absolute with शिरसि)

• गर्भ-शूलम्: pregnancy pain; uterine colic
• गर्भ-शूलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• विनश्येत: would perish; would subside
• विनश्येत: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √नश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अत्र: here; in this matter
• अत्र: Desha-adhikarana (Adverbial location/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• कार्या: to be done; necessary
• कार्या: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (to be done)

• विचारणा: consideration; deliberation
• विचारणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Compassionate care (dayā) expressed through simple remedies; alleviating suffering is dhārmic.

Vedantic Theme: Embodied life as a field for dharma; tending the body supports clarity and stability for higher pursuits.

Application: Provide comfort measures for pregnancy pain; combine traditional soothing practices with appropriate medical evaluation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/clinic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.202.14 (apāmārga root rite); Garuda Purana 1.202.13 (delivery-promoting remedies)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Women
• Apamarga (herb)

FAQs

What is the importance of apāmārga (Achyranthes aspera) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents apāmārga’s root as a traditional protective/remedial application, indicating the text’s inclusion of ritual-therapeutic measures alongside dharma and other teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

This specific verse does not address the after-death journey; it belongs to a practical, remedy-oriented instruction, showing that the Garuda Purana also transmits applied rites and folk-therapeutic guidance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical-scriptural remedy: consult qualified medical professionals for pregnancy pain, and if following tradition, do so only as a non-harmful devotional/ritual practice under competent guidance.