Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

अद्भिर्वा पयसाज्येन मासमेकन्तु सेविता / वचा कर्यान्नरं प्राज्ञं श्रुतिधारणसंयुतम्

Transliteration

adbhirvā payasājyena māsamekantu sevitā / vacā karyānnaraṃ prājñaṃ śrutidhāraṇasaṃyutam

Translation

Si se toma vacā (cálamo aromático) durante un mes—con agua, o con leche, o con ghee—vuelve al hombre sabio y le concede el poder de retener lo oído, firme memoria de la escritura sagrada y de la instrucción.

Word by Word

• अद्भिः: with waters
• अद्भिः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• पयसा: with milk
• पयसा: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आज्येन: with ghee
• आज्येन: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) मासम् प्रति

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक निपात (emphatic/contrast particle)

• सेविता: (is to be) used/served
• सेविता: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); (अत्र) विधेयभावे प्रयोगः

• वचा: with vacā (Acorus calamus)
• वचा: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कार्यात्: should be made/treated
• कार्यात्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त/भाव्य)
• Form: भाव्य/विधिलिङ्गार्थक प्रयोग (gerundive: 'should be made/done'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Singular) — अत्र विधेयत्वे

• नरम्: a man/person
• नरम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राज्ञम्: wise
• प्राज्ञम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) नरम् प्रति

• श्रुतिधारणसंयुतम्: endowed with retention of learning
• श्रुतिधारणसंयुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + धारण (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपदसमासः: श्रुतेः धारणम् यस्य तत् (endowed with retention of what is heard)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, in the teaching style of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Medhā and śruti-dhāraṇā can be cultivated through disciplined sāttvika regimen (auṣadha-sevā).

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana supports antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and smṛti/medhā, aiding jñāna and śāstra-adhyayana.

Application: One-month course of vacā with water/milk/ghee under guidance; pair with daily recitation and study for retention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.192 (auṣadha/rasāyana-medhya context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of vacā (sweet flag) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents vacā as a month-long regimen that cultivates prajñā (wisdom) and śruti-dhāraṇa—strong retention of what one hears, especially sacred instruction.

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

Alongside descriptions of death rites and the hereafter, the Garuda Purana also preserves practical dharmic and health-related disciplines; here it recommends a disciplined herbal practice to support learning and scriptural memory.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

As a takeaway, it emphasizes consistent, time-bound discipline for improving learning and recall; for actual herbal use, one should follow safe, qualified guidance consistent with Ayurveda and personal health conditions.