Shloka 18

Preparations of Medicated Ghee and Oils (Ghṛta–Taila Yoga); Brāhmī-ghṛta and Nārāyaṇa Taila

Devanagari script

चित्रकार्कत्रिवृद्वापि यवानीहयमारकम् / सुधां च बालां गणिकां सप्तपर्णसुवर्चिकाम्

Transliteration

citrakārkatrivṛdvāpi yavānīhayamārakam / sudhāṃ ca bālāṃ gaṇikāṃ saptaparṇasuvarcikām

Translation

គួរយកឱសថចិត្រក (chitraka), អរក (arka), ត្រីវ្រឹត (trivrit), វាពិ (vāpi), យវានី (yavānī), ហយមារក (hayamāraka) រួមជាមួយ សុធា (sudhā), បាលា (bālā), កណិកា (gaṇikā) ហើយក៏យក សប្តបರ್ಣ (saptaparṇa) និង សុវរចិកា (suvarcikā) ផងដែរ។

Word by Word

• चित्रक: citraka (leadwort)
• चित्रक: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — medicinal plant name (Citraka)

• अर्क: arka (calotropis)
• अर्क: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — medicinal plant name (arka)

• त्रिवृत्: trivṛt (turpeth)
• त्रिवृत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवृत्/त्रिवृता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (पाठभेद), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — medicinal plant name (trivṛt)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय — or

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय — also

• यवानी: yavānī (ajwain)
• यवानी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यवानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — medicinal plant/spice name

• हयमारकम्: hayamāraka (drug)
• हयमारकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयमारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — medicinal substance name

• सुधाम्: sudhā (lime/nectar; here a drug)
• सुधाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय — and

• बालाम्: bālā (Sida cordifolia)
• बालाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular; drug name

• गणिकाम्: gaṇikā (drug)
• गणिकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular; drug name

• सप्तपर्णसुवर्चिकाम्: saptaparṇa-suparcikā (drug)
• सप्तपर्णसुवर्चिकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तपर्ण + सुवर्चिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular; ‘सप्तपर्ण-सुवर्चिका’ = suvarcikā associated with saptaparṇa

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dravya-jñāna—precise knowledge of medicinal substances and their collection/combination.

Vedantic Theme: Vidya as upakāra—knowledge used for loka-saṅgraha (welfare).

Application: Identify and procure the listed herbs correctly (chitraka, arka, trivrit, yavānī, etc.) as prerequisites for preparing the intended medicine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.174.19-20 (continuation: cooking and application of medicated oil)

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herbs in Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional Ayurvedic materia medica, indicating how specific herbs are combined as a base for later preparations described in the chapter.

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

It shows the Purana’s broader scope: along with dharma and the afterlife, it also transmits practical health knowledge through classical herbal formulations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a textual reference for historical Ayurveda; for actual treatment, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner because several plant identifications and dosages require expert clarification.