Shloka 13

Bhāiṣajya-yoga for Prameha, Mutra-roga, Arśa, Bhagandara, and Agni-dīpana

Devanagari script

शुण्ठीचूर्णं यवक्षारयुक्तं तुल्यगुडान्वितम् / अग्निवृद्धिं करोत्येव प्रत्यूषे वृषभध्वज

Transliteration

śuṇṭhīcūrṇaṃ yavakṣārayuktaṃ tulyaguḍānvitam / agnivṛddhiṃ karotyeva pratyūṣe vṛṣabhadhvaja

Translation

La poudre de gingembre sec (śuṇṭhī), mêlée au yavakṣāra (sel alcalin) et jointe à une mesure égale de jaggery, accroît assurément le feu digestif lorsqu’on la prend à l’aube, ô Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Śiva).

Word by Word

• śuṇṭhī-cūrṇam: powder of dry ginger
• śuṇṭhī-cūrṇam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṇṭhī (प्रातिपदिक) + cūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'शुण्ठ्याः चूर्णम्'

• yava-kṣāra-yuktam: mixed with barley-alkali
• yava-kṣāra-yuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yava (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣāra (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'यवक्षारेण युक्तम्'

• tulya-guḍa-anvitam: combined with equal (amount of) jaggery
• tulya-guḍa-anvitam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'तुल्यगुडेन् अन्वितम्' (with equal jaggery)

• agni-vṛddhim: increase of digestive fire
• agni-vṛddhim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'अग्नेः वृद्धिः'

• karoti: produces/causes
• karoti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Emphasis/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

• pratyūṣe: at dawn/early morning
• pratyūṣe: Adhikaraṇa (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyūṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• vṛṣabha-dhvaja: O bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• vṛṣabha-dhvaja: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Masculine, Vocative, Singular); बहुव्रीहि: 'वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (instructing Garuda; verse contains an address using an epithet of Śiva)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dinacaryā: cultivating agni through timely, measured intake; self-regulation.

Vedantic Theme: Tapas as disciplined regulation of senses and habits; inner ‘fire’ as metaphor for clarity and transformation.

Application: At dawn/early morning, take ginger powder with yavakṣāra and equal jaggery to kindle digestion—caution in gastritis/ulcer or high pitta.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.186 (agni-dīpana formulations)

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Vṛṣabhadhvaja)

FAQs

What is the importance of digestive fire (agni) in the Garuda Purana context?

This verse treats agni as a foundation for bodily balance and wellbeing, prescribing a simple preparation to strengthen digestion, which supports disciplined living (dharma) and steadiness in religious practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular śloka is practical and medical in tone rather than describing the afterlife; it emphasizes maintaining the body through regulated habits, indirectly supporting one’s capacity for vows, rituals, and ethical conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It recommends a dawn regimen: ginger powder with a small amount of alkaline salt and equal jaggery to kindle digestion—best approached cautiously and with medical guidance, especially for ulcers, hypertension, or metabolic conditions.