Shloka 21

Therapeutic Formulations for Glandular Swelling, Skin Diseases, Heat-Afflictions, Bleeding Disorders, Respiratory Complaints, and Vomiting

Devanagari script

माहिषेण पुरीषेण वेष्टिता वृषभध्वज / अस्या उद्वर्तनं कुर्यादङ्गसौष्ठवमीश्वर

Transliteration

māhiṣeṇa purīṣeṇa veṣṭitā vṛṣabhadhvaja / asyā udvartanaṃ kuryādaṅgasauṣṭhavamīśvara

Translation

牡牛の旗を掲げる主（ヴリシャバドゥヴァジャ）よ、彼女の身を水牛の糞で塗り包み、さらに自在天よ、身体が端正で健やかとなるよう、擦り磨く塗擦（ウドヴァルタナ）を施すべし。

Word by Word

• माहिषेण: with buffalo (i.e., buffalo-)
• माहिषेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular; ‘buffalo-related’

• पुरीषेण: with dung
• पुरीषेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वेष्टिता: wrapped/covered
• वेष्टिता: Kriya (Participial predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु) → वेष्टित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (understood: हरिद्रा/लेप्य-वस्तु) ‘wrapped/smeared’

• वृषभध्वज: O Bull-bannered (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ-ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक; वृषभ + ध्वज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Vocative singular; ‘he whose banner is a bull’

• अस्याः: of this (woman)/of her
• अस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• उद्वर्तनम्: rubbing/unction (powder massage)
• उद्वर्तनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should do’

• अङ्गसौष्ठवम्: bodily well-being/beauty
• अङ्गसौष्ठवम्: Karma (Result/Phala as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग-सौष्ठव (प्रातिपदिक; अङ्ग + सौष्ठव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular (result/purpose)

• ईश्वर: O Lord
• ईश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Vocative singular

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu (contextual dialogue attribution within Garuda Purana discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Endure unpleasant means for a wholesome end; bodily discipline (udvartana) supports health and composure.

Vedantic Theme: Tapas-like acceptance of discomfort for higher order; body as field of disciplined action.

Application: Apply buffalo dung as a wrap/smear and perform udvartana (rubbing) to promote bodily firmness/health (aṅga-sauṣṭhava).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.190 (udvartana and external applications for skin/body conditioning)

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Śiva epithet)

FAQs

What is the importance of udvartana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents udvartana as a purposeful cleansing/rubbing rite that promotes aṅga-sauṣṭhava—bodily soundness and good form—indicating the Purana’s emphasis on ritual purity and proper bodily observances.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

By prescribing a specific act (udvartana) after being covered with an impure substance (buffalo-dung), the verse frames ritual action as a means to restore auspiciousness and physical propriety, a recurring Purāṇic concern in rites and observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat cleanliness and corrective routines as dharmic discipline: when exposed to impurity or neglect, restore order through intentional purification and healthy practices rather than indifference.