Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

कर्षार्धमेकं सेवेत नत्वा नित्यं हरिं प्रभुम् / पुराणषष्टिधान्यस्य पथ्यमम्बु पिबन्हर / जीवेद्वर्षसहस्राणि वलीपलितवर्जितः

Transliteration

karṣārdhamekaṃ seveta natvā nityaṃ hariṃ prabhum / purāṇaṣaṣṭidhānyasya pathyamambu pibanhara / jīvedvarṣasahasrāṇi valīpalitavarjitaḥ

Translation

Habiéndose postrado cada día ante Hari, el Señor, debe tomarse con regularidad una sola medida de medio karṣa de esta preparación saludable. Bebiendo únicamente agua apropiada, oh Hara, se vivirán miles de años, libre de arrugas y de canas.

Word by Word

• कर्षार्धम्: half a karṣa (measure)
• कर्षार्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘कर्षस्य अर्धम्’)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण of कर्षार्धम्

• सेवेत: should take/use
• सेवेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नम् (धातु) → नत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; हरिम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण-रूपेण

• पुराण: old
• पुराण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-पूर्वपद; अर्थः ‘पुरातन/old’

• षष्टि: sixty
• षष्टि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-पूर्वपद; संख्या (numeral)

• धान्यस्य: of old sixty-grain (mixture)
• धान्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पुराण+षष्टि+धान्य)

• पथ्यम्: wholesome
• पथ्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण of अम्बु

• अम्बु: water
• अम्बु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पिबन्: drinking
• पिबन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु) → पिबत् (शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि

• हर: O Hara
• हर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (सम्बोधन-प्रातिपदिक; रुद्र-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• जीवेत्: would live
• जीवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वर्षसहस्राणि: thousands of years
• वर्षसहस्राणि: Karma (Extent/कर्म-प्रमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘वर्षाणां सहस्राणि’)

• वली: wrinkle
• वली: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समास-पूर्वपद (wrinkle)

• पलित: grey hair
• पलित: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं; समास-पूर्वपद (grey hair)

• वर्जितः: free from wrinkles and grey hair
• वर्जितः: Karta (Predicate/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु) → वर्जित (क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; तत्पुरुष (वली+पलित+वर्जित)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Health and longevity practices are to be undertaken with daily surrender to Hari; devotion anchors discipline and right use of the body.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-prāṇidhāna and sattva-śuddhi: devotion and regulated living support clarity and steadiness, making the body fit for dharma and contemplation.

Application: Begin regimen with daily namaskāra to Hari; take the specified wholesome preparation in a half-karṣa measure regularly; drink only suitable/wholesome water; maintain consistency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household shrine and daily living space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.187 (rasayana framed with devotion to Hari; longevity claims)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Hara (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of pathya (wholesome diet) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links spiritual discipline (daily bowing to Hari) with a regulated, wholesome regimen—taking a measured dose and drinking suitable water—presenting pathya as essential for sustaining health and longevity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Rather than describing post-death travel, this verse emphasizes preserving the embodied life through devotion and disciplined living, implying that dharmic, regulated conduct supports a stable life for pursuing higher aims.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a consistent daily devotional practice, follow a measured and wholesome diet, and avoid excess—treating food and water as disciplined supports for health and longevity.