Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

पद्मरागप्रतीकाशंयुक्तं दशशतायुषा / षोडशाब्दाकृतिं रुद्र सततं दुग्धभोजनात्

Transliteration

padmarāgapratīkāśaṃyuktaṃ daśaśatāyuṣā / ṣoḍaśābdākṛtiṃ rudra satataṃ dugdhabhojanāt

Translation

Ô Rudra, en se nourrissant constamment de lait, on est doté d’un éclat semblable au rubis, on atteint une durée de vie de mille ans et l’on conserve sans cesse la forme et l’apparence d’un jeune de seize ans.

Word by Word

• padmarāgapratīkāśam: ruby-like in lustre
• padmarāgapratīkāśam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padmarāga (प्रातिपदिक) + pratīkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (having the appearance/lustre of ruby)

• yuktam: endowed; possessed
• yuktam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (धातु) → yukta (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (endowed/possessed)

• daśaśatāyuṣā: with a lifespan of a thousand years
• daśaśatāyuṣā: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (with a lifespan of ten hundreds = 1000 years)

• ṣoḍaśābdākṛtim: a sixteen-year-old form
• ṣoḍaśābdākṛtim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (a form/appearance of sixteen years)

• rudra: O Rudra
• rudra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• satatam: constantly
• satatam: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• dugdhabhojanāt: from a milk diet
• dugdhabhojanāt: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dugdha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (from milk-diet/consumption of milk)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra in a didactic section)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tejas and longevity are linked to disciplined, consistent nourishment (milk regimen).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva and ojas cultivation; bodily splendor as a byproduct, not the ultimate end.

Application: If adopting milk-based regimen, do so with moderation and suitability; aim for steadiness and vitality rather than vanity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.187.2 (milk for a week); Garuda Purana 1.187.4 (milk with honey and ghee for longevity)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of milk-diet (dugdha-bhojana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents constant milk-consumption as a sattvic discipline associated with bodily radiance, longevity, and youthful vigor—used as a prescriptive teaching on regulated living.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing disciplined, pure sustenance, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that one’s habits (ācāra) shape vitality and merit, which in turn influence one’s post-death condition and journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt dietary restraint and purity as a form of self-discipline; if milk suits one’s health and tradition, use it moderately and consistently as part of a regulated, sattvic lifestyle rather than indulgence.