Shloka 33

Bhāiṣajya-yoga

Remedial Formulas), Rakṣā-prayoga (Protections), and Adbhuta-kriyā (Wonder-Working Procedures

Devanagari script

शिरोरोगहरं लेपाद्गुञ्जाचूर्णं सकाञ्जिकम् / बला चातिबला यष्टी शर्करा मधुसंयुता

Transliteration

śirorogaharaṃ lepādguñjācūrṇaṃ sakāñjikam / balā cātibalā yaṣṭī śarkarā madhusaṃyutā

Translation

ശിരോരോഗം അകറ്റാൻ ലേപം നിർദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നു—ഗുഞ്ജാപൊടി കാഞ്ചികം (പുളിച്ച കഞ്ഞിവെള്ളം) ചേർത്ത്. അതുപോലെ ബലാ, അതിബലാ, യഷ്ടി എന്നിവ പഞ്ചസാരയും തേനും ചേർത്ത് ഔഷധമായി ഉപയോഗിക്കാം.

Word by Word

• शिरोरोगहरम्: removing head diseases
• शिरोरोगहरम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिरोरोग (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शिरोरोगस्य हरम्’

• लेपात्: from/through a paste-application
• लेपात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादानार्थ (from/by means of application)

• गुञ्जाचूर्णम्: powder of guñjā (Abrus)
• गुञ्जाचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुञ्जा (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गुञ्जायाः चूर्णम्’

• सकाञ्जिकम्: along with sour gruel
• सकाञ्जिकम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (प्रातिपदिक) + काञ्जिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘काञ्जिक-सहितम्’

• बला: balā (Sida cordifolia)
• बला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• अतिबला: atibalā (a stronger balā variety)
• अतिबला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + बला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘अतिशयेन बला’

• यष्टी: yaṣṭī (licorice)
• यष्टी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रायः ‘यष्टिमधु’ (licorice) संदर्भे

• शर्करा: sugar
• शर्करा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मधुसंयुता: mixed with honey
• मधुसंयुता: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP ‘संयुत’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थ: ‘मधुना संयुता’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Balancing and strengthening the embodied system; alleviating pain to restore clarity and steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Mind’s clarity is supported by bodily well-being; remedies serve as ancillary supports to higher aims.

Application: For head diseases, apply a paste of guñjā powder mixed with kāñjika; use balā, atibalā, and yaṣṭī combined with sugar and honey as a strengthening/soothing remedy, with strict attention to safety (guñjā toxicity).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.184 (śiro-roga remedies; tonic herbs balā/atibalā/yaṣṭī)

Characters & Entities

• Guñjā
• Kāñjika
• Balā
• Atibalā
• Yaṣṭīmadhū
• Madhu

FAQs

What remedy for head disease (śiroroga) is mentioned in Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes an external paste (lepa) made from guñjā powder mixed with kāñjika, and also mentions balā, atibalā, and yaṣṭī combined with sugar and honey as therapeutic ingredients.

Does this verse relate to death rituals or the soul’s journey in Garuda Purana?

No—this specific verse is from a medicinal/remedial section and focuses on Ayurvedic-style treatment for head ailments rather than preta-karma, Yama’s realm, or the post-death journey.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse today?

It highlights the Purana’s inclusion of traditional therapeutic knowledge; in modern practice, such formulations should be approached as historical Ayurvedic references and used only with qualified medical guidance due to herb safety and dosage concerns.