Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

भूमि कूष्माण्डमूलं वै शालिचूर्णमथापि वा / सप्ताहं दुग्धपीतं स्यात्स्त्रीणां बहुपयस्करम्

Transliteration

bhūmi kūṣmāṇḍamūlaṃ vai śālicūrṇamathāpi vā / saptāhaṃ dugdhapītaṃ syātstrīṇāṃ bahupayaskaram

Translation

Indeed, if the root of bhūmi-kūṣmāṇḍa (a gourd-like plant), or even rice flour, is taken with milk for seven days, it is said to increase abundant breast-milk in women.

Word by Word

• भूमि: O Earth / earth
• भूमि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (8th/1st), एकवचन (पाठानुसार; सम्भाव्यं 'भूमे' voc.)

• कूष्माण्डमूलम्: root of kūṣmāṇḍa (ash gourd)
• कूष्माण्डमूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूष्माण्ड + मूल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कूष्माण्डस्य मूलम्)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse-marker (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• शालिचूर्णम्: rice flour
• शालिचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शालेः चूर्णम्)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Discourse-marker (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भबोधक (sequencing particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Discourse-marker (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• सप्ताहम्: for a week
• सप्ताहम्: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal extent/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्ताह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• दुग्धपीतम्: taken with milk / milk-drunk
• दुग्धपीतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुग्ध + पीत (कृदन्त; √पा (धातु) + क्त; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दुग्धं पीतम् = drunk with milk)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्त्रीणाम्: for/of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• बहुपयस्करम्: milk-increasing/galactagogue
• बहुपयस्करम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + पयस् + कर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (बहु पयः करोति = increases milk)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata (postpartum depletion) / Kapha (stanya augmentation)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bṛṃhaṇa and stanya-janana support as a duty of care for mother and infant.

Vedantic Theme: Sustaining life (dhāraṇa) through sattvic nourishment; practical compassion as lived dharma.

Application: For one week, administer bhūmi-kūṣmāṇḍa root or rice flour with milk as a lactation-supporting regimen—under appropriate guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household postpartum setting (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.202 (stanya-vardhana/strī-roga remedies context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this lactation remedy in Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves practical, household health guidance—showing the text also includes welfare-oriented instructions alongside dharma and ritual teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife themes?

It does not address the afterlife directly; it belongs to a practical instruction segment where Vishnu gives beneficial, life-supporting regimens for everyday wellbeing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights a simple, time-bound dietary regimen (taken with milk for seven days) traditionally believed to support lactation; apply thoughtfully and consult a qualified healthcare professional for postpartum care.