Shloka 3
Dhūpa-Lepa-Mantra-Prayoga: Vaśīkaraṇa, Rakṣā, Jvara-nāśa, and Stambhana Applications
मैथुनं पुरुषो गच्छेद्गृह्णीयात्स्वकमिन्द्रियम् / वामहस्तेन वामञ्च हस्तं लिंपेत्तु यत्स्त्रियाः / आलिप्ता स्त्री वशं याति नान्यं पुरुषमिच्छति
maithunaṃ puruṣo gacchedgṛhṇīyātsvakamindriyam / vāmahastena vāmañca hastaṃ liṃpettu yatstriyāḥ / āliptā strī vaśaṃ yāti nānyaṃ puruṣamicchati
മൈഥുനത്തിലേക്ക് പോകുമ്പോൾ പുരുഷൻ തന്റെ ഇന്ദ്രിയത്തെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കണം. ഇടത്തുകൈ കൊണ്ട് സ്ത്രീയുടെ ഇടത്തുകൈയിൽ ആ ലേപം പുരട്ടണം; പുരട്ടപ്പെട്ടാൽ അവൾ വശപ്പെടുകയും മറ്റൊരു പുരുഷനെ ആഗ്രഹിക്കാതിരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a prescriptive section)
Concept: Self-control is named (gṛhṇīyāt svakam indriyam) yet immediately redirected toward controlling another—highlighting ethical ambiguity and the primacy of inner restraint in dharmic reading.
Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense-control) as prerequisite for freedom; misapplication toward domination reinforces bondage (bandha) through rāga and ahaṅkāra.
Application: At the time of maithuna, the man should restrain his own faculty; with left hand apply the smear to the woman’s left hand; the verse claims this produces exclusive attachment.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.180.2 (preceding lepa recipe)
FAQs
The verse explicitly frames sexual activity as something that should be governed by self-control (grasping one’s indriya), presenting restraint as the ethical foundation even within household life.
It reads as a prescriptive instruction delivered by Vishnu to Garuda in a practical teaching section, emphasizing conduct and techniques rather than afterlife geography or punishments.
Treat intimacy as an area requiring personal discipline and responsibility; prioritize consent, fidelity, and self-restraint, and avoid coercive interpretations that conflict with dharmic ethics.