Shloka 11

Rasāyana for Longevity: Milk-Based Regimens, Triphalā, Palāśa, and Bhr̥ṅgarāja (Śrāvaṇa & Puṣya Observances)

Devanagari script

पलाशस्य च बीजानि श्रावणे वितुषाणि च / गृहीत्वा नवनीतेन तेषां चूर्णं च भक्षयेत्

Transliteration

palāśasya ca bījāni śrāvaṇe vituṣāṇi ca / gṛhītvā navanītena teṣāṃ cūrṇaṃ ca bhakṣayet

Translation

En el mes de Śrāvaṇa, tómense las semillas del árbol palāśa y quíteseles la cáscara; luego muélanse en polvo, mézclense con mantequilla fresca (navanīta) y consúmanse.

Word by Word

• पलाशस्य: of palāśa (Butea)
• पलाशस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• बीजानि: seeds
• बीजानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• श्रावणे: in (the month of) Śrāvaṇa
• श्रावणे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण

• वितुषाणि: dehusked
• वितुषाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+तुष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘without husk’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण of बीजानि

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → गृहीत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• नवनीतेन: with butter
• नवनीतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवनीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण

• तेषाम्: of those
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• चूर्णम्: powder
• चूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• भक्षयेत्: should eat
• भक्षयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right timing (kāla) and proper processing (saṃskāra) make substances beneficial; discipline in diet supports life’s aims.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-supporting conduct (āhāra-niyama) as an aid to steadiness of mind and capacity for higher pursuits.

Application: Collect palāśa seeds in Śrāvaṇa, dehusk, powder, mix with fresh butter, and consume in an appropriate dose under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/grove and household kitchen

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.187 (rasayana/kalpa preparations with seasonal and nakṣatra timings)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of taking palāśa seeds in Śrāvaṇa according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives a timed regimen: dehusked palāśa seeds, powdered and taken with butter in Śrāvaṇa, indicating a prescribed seasonal practice for bodily regulation and disciplined observance.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond afterlife topics?

It shows the text also contains practical āchāra (conduct) and upāya (remedial) instructions—dietary and seasonal disciplines—alongside its better-known teachings on death rites and the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a traditional regimen tied to seasonal discipline; if someone wishes to follow it, they should do so cautiously and consult a qualified practitioner, focusing on the broader principle of regulated diet and timing (ṛtu/masa-based conduct).