Shloka 6

Bhāiṣajya-yoga: Lehyas for Kāsa–Śvāsa–Hikkā, Blood-Pacifying Drinks, Udvartana Depilation, and Dental Brightening

Devanagari script

शुण्ठी च शर्करा चैव तथा क्षौद्रेण संयुता / कोकिलस्वर एव स्याद्गुटिका भुक्तिमात्रतः

Transliteration

śuṇṭhī ca śarkarā caiva tathā kṣaudreṇa saṃyutā / kokilasvara eva syādguṭikā bhuktimātrataḥ

Translation

ശുണ്ഠിയും ശർക്കരയും തേൻ ചേർത്ത് ചെറിയ ഗുളികയായി കഴിച്ചാൽ, കഴിച്ചതുമാത്രത്തിൽ തന്നെ കണ്ഠസ്വരം കുയിലുപോലെ മധുരവും സംഗീതമയവും ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• शुण्ठी: dry ginger
• शुण्ठी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुण्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तृपद-समुच्चय (द्रव्यसूची)

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

• शर्करा: sugar
• शर्करा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तृपद-समुच्चय

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• क्षौद्रेण: with honey
• क्षौद्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण

• संयुता: combined/mixed
• संयुता: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) → संयुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘joined/combined’; (गुटिका/औषधद्रव्यसमूहस्य) विशेषण

• कोकिलस्वरः: a cuckoo-like voice
• कोकिलस्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कोकिलस्य स्वरः (cuckoo-like voice)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• स्यात्: would become
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुटिका: a pill/tablet
• गुटिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्ता

• भुक्तिमात्रतः: merely by consuming (it)
• भुक्तिमात्रतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त): ‘मात्रतः’ = ‘only by the measure’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: भुक्तेः मात्रतः (by merely eating)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a remedies/ācāra context)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Refining speech by caring for the bodily instrument; sweetness of voice supports truthful, beneficial communication.

Vedantic Theme: Vak-shuddhi as supportive discipline; body-speech-mind alignment.

Application: A small gutika of shunthi + sugar with honey is indicated to improve voice quality; useful for reciters/singers with dryness or hoarseness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.181 (voice/throat supportive formulations)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this voice remedy in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a practical āyurvedic-style formulation—dry ginger, sugar, and honey—as a guṭikā meant to improve vocal sweetness and clarity, reflecting the text’s ācāra-oriented guidance for daily well-being.

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

While the Garuda Purana is famous for afterlife and dharma discussions, it also includes conduct and remedial instructions; here it gives a simple medicinal preparation aimed at refining speech/voice quality.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a traditional throat/voice-support measure, the verse points to a soothing mix of ginger, sugar, and honey taken in small quantity; for modern use, apply with caution and consider health conditions (e.g., diabetes) and professional advice.