Shloka 145

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

वृन्ताकं वृषणद्वन्द्वे लिङ्गे स्याद्गृञ्जनं शुभम् / घृतं नाभ्यां प्रदेयं स्यात्कौ पीने च त्रपुस्मृतम्

Transliteration

vṛntākaṃ vṛṣaṇadvandve liṅge syādgṛñjanaṃ śubham / ghṛtaṃ nābhyāṃ pradeyaṃ syātkau pīne ca trapusmṛtam

Translation

For ailments of the pair of testicles, vṛntāka (brinjal) is prescribed; for disorders of the male organ, the auspicious remedy is gṛñjana. Ghee should be applied at the navel; and in cases of swelling in the groin, trapu is said to be the remedy.

Word by Word

• वृन्ताकम्: eggplant (brinjal)
• वृन्ताकम्: Karta/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृन्ताक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सन्दर्भतः प्रथमा—विधेय/नामनिर्देश)

• वृषणद्वन्द्वे: in the pair of testicles
• वृषणद्वन्द्वे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषण (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वृषणयोः द्वन्द्वः = pair of testicles)

• लिङ्गे: in the phallus
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्यात्: should be / may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गृञ्जनम्: carrot (gṛñjana)
• गृञ्जनम्: Karta/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (विधेय)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (गृञ्जनम्)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाभ्याम्: by/with the two navels
• नाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (सन्दर्भतः तृतीया—करण/साधन: "by/through the two navels"; पाठभेदे नाभ्याम् = नाभि-द्वयेन)

• प्रदेयम्: to be given/placed
• प्रदेयम्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √दा (धातु) → प्रदेय (कृदन्त; भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तव्यतार्थक-भाव्य (gerundive), विशेषण (घृतम्)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कौ: in the two (uncertain reading)
• कौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: का (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (सन्दर्भतः सप्तमी अपेक्षिता; पाठे 'कौ' अस्पष्ट—सम्भाव्यः 'कुक्षौ/कक्षौ/कौ' इति पाठभेदः)

• पीने: in the plump/fleshy (part)
• पीने: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थान-निर्देशे)

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात

• त्रपुस्मृतम्: called 'trapu' (cucumber/gourd, per lexicon)
• त्रपुस्मृतम्: Karta/Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रपु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृत (कृदन्त; √स्मृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (त्रपु इति स्मृतम् = called 'trapu')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body as a support for dharma; pragmatic healing knowledge can be part of righteous living.

Vedantic Theme: Śarīra as sādhanā-sādhana (instrument for practice) when maintained without attachment.

Application: Seek timely, appropriate treatment; apply remedies with cleanliness and moderation; consult qualified practitioners where possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Uttara/other sections) where āyurveda, dravya-guṇa, and household remedies are listed (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of listing remedies in the Garuda Purana (Preta Kanda)?

This verse shows that, alongside afterlife teachings, the Garuda Purana also preserves practical guidance—here, a terse catalog of prescribed substances for specific bodily afflictions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, within the broader Preta Kanda setting, it functions as ancillary instruction—practical prescriptions embedded in the Vishnu–Garuda discourse.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical textual prescription list: use it for study and cross-reference with Ayurveda/traditional materia medica, while relying on qualified medical advice for diagnosis and treatment.