Shloka 24

Netra–Nāsa–Mukha Cikitsā, Vraṇa/Bhasma Prayoga, Jvara–Vāta Remedies, and Protective/Uccāṭana Procedures

Devanagari script

भक्षात्केसरबीजस्य दन्ताः स्युश्चलिताःस्थिराः / मुष्टकं कुष्ठमेला च यष्टिकं मधुवालकम्

Transliteration

bhakṣātkesarabījasya dantāḥ syuścalitāḥsthirāḥ / muṣṭakaṃ kuṣṭhamelā ca yaṣṭikaṃ madhuvālakam

Translation

കേസര വിത്ത് ചവച്ചാൽ ഇളകുന്ന പല്ലുകളും ദൃഢമാകും. ദന്തഹിത മിശ്രണത്തിൽ മുഷ്ടകം, കുഷ്ഠം, മേള, യഷ്ടിക, മധു-വാലകം എന്നിവ ഉപകാരകരം।

Word by Word

• भक्षात्: from eating
• भक्षात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान-हेतु (from eating)

• केसरबीजस्य: of the kesara-seed
• केसरबीजस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसर-बीज (प्रातिपदिक; केसर + बीज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (केसरस्य बीजम्)

• दन्ताः: teeth
• दन्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• स्युः: would become / should be
• स्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• चलिताः: loosened
• चलिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √चल् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘moved/loosened’

• स्थिराः: firm
• स्थिराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• मुष्टकम्: muṣṭaka (a medicinal herb)
• मुष्टकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्रव्य-नाम

• कुष्ठमेला: kuṣṭha and melā
• कुष्ठमेला: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ-मेला (प्रातिपदिक; कुष्ठ + मेला)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (कुष्ठं च मेला च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• यष्टिकम्: yaṣṭikā (licorice)
• यष्टिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• मधुवालकम्: madhuvālaka (a fragrant grass/herb)
• मधुवालकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु-वालक (प्रातिपदिक; मधु + वालक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मधुना/मधुसदृशं वालकम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preventive and restorative care (especially oral health) as part of disciplined living.

Vedantic Theme: Maintenance of the senses and organs (indriya-sharira) to support study, worship, and duty.

Application: Chew kesara seeds to strengthen loosened teeth; employ a dental mixture including mustaka, kushtha, mela, yashtika, and madhu-valaka.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177.25-26 (mouth odor and dental sores)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of herbal dental remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents practical, tradition-backed remedies for oral health, showing that the Garuda Purana includes applied dharma and wellness guidance alongside spiritual topics.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it teaches bodily maintenance practices that support cleanliness and disciplined living, which the text often treats as part of righteous conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a pointer toward classical herbal oral-care traditions (under qualified guidance), especially for gum/teeth strengthening and mouth freshness.