Shloka 18

Strīroga–Prasava Cikitsā, Bāla-Rakṣā, Rasāyana and Vājīkaraṇa Prayogas

Devanagari script

शङ्ख-नाभि-वचा-कुष्ठ-लोहानां धारणं सदा / बालानामुपसर्गेभ्यो रुद्र रक्षाकरं भवेत्

Transliteration

śaṅkha-nābhi-vacā-kuṣṭha-lohānāṃ dhāraṇaṃ sadā / bālānāmupasargebhyo rudra rakṣākaraṃ bhavet

Translation

If one always wears, as protective amulets, śaṅkha-nābhi, vacā, kuṣṭha, and iron, it becomes Rudra’s protection, guarding children from afflictions and contagious influences.

Word by Word

• शङ्ख: conch
• शङ्ख: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग (dvandva member)

• नाभि: navel (mark)
• नाभि: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग

• वचा: sweet flag (Acorus)
• वचा: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग

• कुष्ठ: costus (herb)
• कुष्ठ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग

• लोहानाम्: of metals/iron etc.
• लोहानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समस्तपदस्य षष्ठी-बहुवचन (of conch-mark, navel-mark, vacā, kuṣṭha, and metals)

• धारणम्: wearing/holding (as an amulet)
• धारणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धातु) → धारण (प्रातिपदिक, भाववाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्रियावाचक-भाव (act of wearing/holding)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• बालानाम्: of children
• बालानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• उपसर्गेभ्यः: from afflictions/attacks
• उपसर्गेभ्यः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन; अपादानार्थ (from)

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• रक्षाकरम्: protective; causing protection
• रक्षाकरम्: Karmapravacanīya/Predicative complement (फल/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रक्षायाः करः = protection-making)

• भवेत्: would be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Raksha-dharana as a dharmic, apotropaic measure for protecting children from upasarga.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-anugraha mediated through sanctioned remedies; recognition of vulnerability of embodied life (deha-dharma).

Application: Wear/keep the listed substances as protective amulets for children, especially during outbreaks or periods of frequent illness; pair with prayer to Rudra for protection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.202 (medical/protective remedies context)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of Rudra-protection (rudra-rakṣā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Rudra-rakṣā as a practical protective measure: wearing specific substances as amulets is said to ward off upasargas (harmful afflictions) especially affecting children.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on suffering and remedies?

Rather than describing punishments or afterlife states, this verse focuses on preventive protection in embodied life—using sanctioned materials and devotional framing (Rudra) to counter misfortunes and illness-like afflictions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a takeaway, it supports combining faith-based protection with traditional herbal/metallic safeguards; in modern practice, it can be approached as a cultural ritual alongside responsible healthcare for children.