Shloka 10

Marakata (Emerald): Mythic Origin, Anti-Poison Virtue, Qualities, Defects, and Proper Wearing

Devanagari script

सर्वमन्त्रौ षधिगणैर्यन्न शक्यं चिकित्सितुम् / महाहिदंष्ट्राप्रभवं विषं तत्तेन शाम्यति

Transliteration

sarvamantrau ṣadhigaṇairyanna śakyaṃ cikitsitum / mahāhidaṃṣṭrāprabhavaṃ viṣaṃ tattena śāmyati

Translation

That poison which cannot be treated even by all mantras and by the six groups of remedies—the venom arising from the fangs of a great serpent—is pacified by that (remedy).

Word by Word

• सर्व-मन्त्र-औषधि-गणैः: by all groups of mantras and medicines
• सर्व-मन्त्र-औषधि-गणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + औषधि (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (मन्त्राः च औषधयः च; तेषां गणाः)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक relative pronoun

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध particle)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (कृदन्त; √शक् धातु, यत्/ण्यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘शक्य’ = possible/able-to-be-done

• चिकित्सितुम्: to treat
• चिकित्सितुम्: Karma (Object of ‘possible’/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिकित्स्/√कित्स् (धातु) (तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-अन्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थ (to treat)

• महाहि-दंष्ट्रा-प्रभवम्: arising from a great serpent’s fangs
• महाहि-दंष्ट्रा-प्रभवम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाहि (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘महाहेः दंष्ट्राभ्यां प्रभवम्’ = arising from great serpent’s fangs)

• विषम्: poison
• विषम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अन्वय-सम्बन्धसूचक

• तेन: by that (remedy/substance)
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• शाम्यति: is pacified/ceases
• शाम्यति: Kriya (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ati-viṣa also has a counter-agent; limits of one method (mantra/standard measures) do not negate the possibility of another efficacious dravya.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti’s balancing principle: for intense harm there may exist an intense remedy; humility before the complexity of causation.

Application: In severe envenomation, combine rational therapeutics with tradition-validated antidotal substances; do not rely on a single modality when stakes are high.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: therapeutic source-region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.71.9 (everything there pacifies poison ailments)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Serpent (Mahāhi)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights the Purana’s emphasis on extraordinary protective remedies—where even otherwise incurable venom is said to be pacified through a specific, authoritative means.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it reinforces that unseen forces (like venom or affliction) can be countered through sanctioned spiritual methods—an idea echoed in the Garuda Purana’s broader focus on protection, purification, and right practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder to combine right spiritual discipline with responsible action—use traditional prayers for protection, but rely on proper medical care for physical emergencies.