Shloka 49

Cikitsā-sāra: Doṣa Nidāna–Lakṣaṇa, Agni, Ajīrṇa/Āma Cikitsā, Daśamūla, and Prognostic Signs

Devanagari script

एतैस्तैलानि सर्पोषि प्रलेपादलकां जयेत् / क्वाथाच्चतुर्गुणं वारि पादस्थं स्याच्चतुर्गुणम्

Transliteration

etaistailāni sarpoṣi pralepādalakāṃ jayet / kvāthāccaturguṇaṃ vāri pādasthaṃ syāccaturguṇam

Translation

De ces racines, on peut préparer des huiles médicinales et du ghee ; par application externe (cataplasme/onction) on triomphe de l’«alakā» (affection de la peau ou du cuir chevelu). Pour la décoction, l’eau doit être quadruple et l’on fait bouillir jusqu’à n’en laisser qu’un quart.

Word by Word

• एतैः: with these
• एतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• तैलानि: oils
• तैलानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• सर्पोषि: ghee
• सर्पोषि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पि/सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; छान्दस/पाठान्तररूप (ghee)

• प्रलेपात्: from/by application (as a plaster)
• प्रलेपात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• अलकाम्: alopecia/patchy hair loss (alaka)
• अलकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• जयेत्: should conquer/cure
• जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्वाथात्: from the decoction
• क्वाथात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्वाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• चतुर्गुणम्: four times (fourfold)
• चतुर्गुणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण—चतुर्गुणं (fourfold)

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

• पादस्थम्: remaining as one quarter
• पादस्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण—पादे स्थितम् (reduced to one quarter)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• चतुर्गुणम्: fourfold
• चतुर्गुणम्: Karya/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Measure and method (pramāṇa-yukti) determine efficacy; discipline in process is itself a form of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga attitude in skilled action (kauśala) applied to healing work.

Application: Prepare medicated oil/ghee and lepa from Daśamūla; for kvātha use four parts water and reduce to one quarter (standard decoction reduction) for intended potency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168.50

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this preparation method in the Garuda Purana?

It preserves a concrete Ayurvedic protocol—make taila/sarpi and use pralepa; for kvātha, use four parts water and reduce to a quarter—showing procedural medical knowledge embedded in the text.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not discuss the soul’s journey; it focuses on remedies and preparation rules, complementing the Purana’s broader aim of guiding right living with practical instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a classical reference for kvātha reduction (4x water → 1/4 remaining) and topical use; apply only with professional medical guidance, especially for skin/scalp conditions.