Shloka 16

Bhaiṣajya-yogas: Digestive Modakas, Vāta-Śamana Oils, Karṇa-Roga Tailas, Kuṣṭha/Śvitra Applications, Vraṇa-Cikitsā, and Medhya Preparations

Devanagari script

सौवर्चलं यवक्षारं सामुद्रं सैन्धवं तथा / ग्रन्थिकं विडमुस्तं च मधु शुक्तं चतुर्गुणम्

Transliteration

sauvarcalaṃ yavakṣāraṃ sāmudraṃ saindhavaṃ tathā / granthikaṃ viḍamustaṃ ca madhu śuktaṃ caturguṇam

Translation

Sal sauvarchala, yava-kṣāra (álcali de cebada), sal marina y saindhava (sal de roca); además granthika, viḍa-musta, miel y vinagre agrio: todo ello ha de tomarse en medida cuádruple.

Word by Word

• सौवर्चलम्: sauvarcala salt
• सौवर्चलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौवर्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम (a kind of salt)

• यव-क्षारम्: barley-alkali
• यव-क्षारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: “barley-alkali”

• सामुद्रम्: sea-salt
• सामुद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम (sea-salt)

• सैन्धवम्: saindhava (rock salt)
• सैन्धवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम (rock-salt)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (adverb/conjunction: “also/likewise”)

• ग्रन्थिकम्: granthika (an ingredient)
• ग्रन्थिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रन्थिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

• विड-मुस्तम्: viḍ and musta
• विड-मुस्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विड (प्रातिपदिक) + मुस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्रव्य-समाहार-द्वन्द्वः: “viḍ and musta”

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मधु: honey
• मधु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• शुक्तम्: vinegar/sour ferment
• शुक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम (sour vinegar/fermented liquid)

• चतुर्गुणम्: fourfold
• चतुर्गुणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; “fourfold (quantity)” (contextual qualifier for an ingredient/measure)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Balance of tastes and agents (salts, alkalis, honey, vinegar) through proportion (caturguṇa) to achieve therapeutic effect.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony through measured combination; disciplined method as a form of applied wisdom.

Application: Use sauvarchala, yavakṣāra, sea-salt, rock-salt, plus granthika and viḍa-musta; add honey and sour vinegar in fourfold measure as specified for the preparation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.192 (use of lavaṇa/kṣāra, madhu, śukta in taila/auṣadha preparations)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing these substances in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a precise ritual/medicinal recipe-style list, emphasizing correct materials and proportions used in traditional observances connected with dharmic rites.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

In the Vishnu–Garuda teaching context, such ingredient lists commonly function as procedural guidance for rites and preparations associated with post-death observances, where accuracy of dravya (materials) is considered essential.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When following family or priest-led rites, use authenticated sources and proper proportions rather than improvising—precision is treated as part of dharma in ritual practice.