Shloka 9

Ṛtucaryā, Āhāra–Aushadha Prayoga, Viṣa-haraṇa, and Mantra Procedures

Devanagari script

कुलीरचूर्णं सक्षीरं पीतञ्च क्षयरेगनुत् / भल्लातकं विडङ्गञ्च यवक्षारञ्च सैन्धवम्

Transliteration

kulīracūrṇaṃ sakṣīraṃ pītañca kṣayareganut / bhallātakaṃ viḍaṅgañca yavakṣārañca saindhavam

Translation

കുലീര (ഞണ്ട്) കവചപ്പൊടി പാലോടുകൂടെ കുടിച്ചാൽ ക്ഷയവും സ്രോതസ്സുകളുടെ രോഗങ്ങളും ശമിക്കും; അതുപോലെ ഭല്ലാതകം, വിഡംഗം, യവക്ഷാരം, സൈന്ധവവും (ഔഷധദ്രവ്യങ്ങൾ) ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• कुलीरचूर्णम्: kulīra powder
• कुलीरचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलीर-चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; कुलीर, चूर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘कुलीरस्य चूर्णम्’ (powder of kulīra)

• सक्षीरम्: together with milk
• सक्षीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक; स = सह (उपसर्गसदृश), क्षीर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘क्षीरेण सह’ (with milk)

• पीतम्: taken (drunk)
• पीतम्: Kriya (Qualifier of action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘drunk/taken’

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

• क्षयरेगनुत्: removes consumption and diarrhoea
• क्षयरेगनुत्: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षय-रेग-नुत् (प्रातिपदिक; क्षय, रेग(=रेचन/रेग ‘diarrhoea’), नुत् = √नुद्/नुत् (धातु/प्रातिपदिक) ‘removing’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘क्षयं रेगं च नुदति’ (remover of consumption and diarrhoea)

• भल्लातकम्: bhallātaka (marking nut)
• भल्लातकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्लातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; औषधद्रव्य (marking nut)

• विडङ्गम्: viḍaṅga
• विडङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विडङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; औषधद्रव्य (false black pepper)

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

• यवक्षारम्: barley-alkali
• यवक्षारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव-क्षार (प्रातिपदिक; यव, क्षार)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘यवानां क्षारः’ (alkali of barley)

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

• सैन्धवम्: saindhava (rock salt)
• सैन्धवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सैन्धवलवण (rock salt)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Apply appropriate remedies to remove obstacles in the body’s channels (srotas) and rebuild strength; disciplined care reduces suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic engagement with prakṛti while maintaining inner steadiness; alleviating duḥkha at the level of the body-mind instrument.

Application: Use kulīra-cūrṇa (crab-shell powder) with milk for kṣaya and srotoroga; additional ingredients listed (bhallātaka, viḍaṅga, yavakṣāra, saindhava) as components per condition and guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.182 (kṣaya and srotas-related remedies)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this medicinal verse in the Garuda Purana?

It preserves dharma by teaching practical, scripture-sanctioned remedies—showing that bodily health is supported as a means to pursue righteous living and spiritual practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: by emphasizing treatment of wasting disease and bodily decline, it implies that caring for health helps one fulfill duties and prepare consciously for death rather than being overwhelmed by premature debility.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional reference point: consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before using potent substances like bhallataka, and adopt the broader principle of maintaining health as part of one’s dharmic discipline.