Shloka 29

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

Fever, GI Disorders, Bleeding, Respiratory, Urinary, Swelling, and Wound Care

Devanagari script

हरीतकी कणा शुण्ठी मरिचं गुडसंयुतम् / कासघ्नो मोदकः प्रोक्तस्तृष्णारोचकनाशनः

Transliteration

harītakī kaṇā śuṇṭhī maricaṃ guḍasaṃyutam / kāsaghno modakaḥ proktastṛṣṇārocakanāśanaḥ

Translation

ഹരീതകി, പിപ്പലി, ശുണ്ഠി, കുരുമുളക്, ശർക്കര (ഗുഡം) ചേർത്ത് 만든 മോദകം ചുമ നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു; അത്യധിക ദാഹവും അരുചിയും അകറ്റുന്നു.

Word by Word

• harītakī: harītakī (chebulic myrobalan)
• harītakī: Karta (Subject/ingredient listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harītakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (द्रव्यनाम)

• kaṇā: kaṇā (long pepper)
• kaṇā: Karta (Subject/ingredient listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (द्रव्यनाम; पिप्पली)

• śuṇṭhī: dry ginger
• śuṇṭhī: Karta (Subject/ingredient listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṇṭhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (द्रव्यनाम)

• maricam: black pepper
• maricam: Karta (Subject/ingredient listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marica (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (द्रव्यनाम)

• guḍa-saṃyutam: mixed with jaggery
• guḍa-saṃyutam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (कृदन्त; √yuj (धातु) क्त, सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘गुडेन संयुतम्’

• kāsa-ghnaḥ: cough-destroying
• kāsa-ghnaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘कासं हन्ति’

• modakaḥ: a bolus/sweet pill (modaka)
• modakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: modaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• proktaḥ: is declared
• proktaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त), प्र-उपसर्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘said/declared’

• tṛṣṇā-rocaka-nāśanaḥ: removing thirst and loss of appetite
• tṛṣṇā-rocaka-nāśanaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛṣṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + rocaka (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘तृष्णायाः रोचकस्य च नाशनः’ (समाहारार्थ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Simple, well-composed remedies can restore functional harmony, enabling steadiness in practice and duty.

Vedantic Theme: Moderation and right means (yukti) in sustaining the body as an instrument.

Application: Prepare a jaggery-based bolus with harītakī, pippalī, śuṇṭhī, marica; use for cough, thirst, and anorexia as directed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (respiratory and agni-supporting formulations)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the modaka formulation in Garuda Purana?

It records a simple, high-compliance dosage form (a sweet bolus) using warming spices and harītakī, aimed at respiratory relief and improving digestion-related symptoms.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This verse is medical rather than eschatological; indirectly, it aligns with the Purana’s dharmic frame by emphasizing bodily support so one can perform duties and spiritual practices.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a traditional reference, it suggests spice-based supportive care for cough and appetite; people with chronic cough, diabetes (due to jaggery), or other conditions should consult a clinician.