Shloka 4

Mantra-Pūta Auṣadhi-Prayoga: Roots, Amulets, and Protections from Disease and Graha/Bhūta Affliction

Devanagari script

श्वेतार्कपुष्पं विधिना गृहीतं पूर्वमन्त्रितम् / ऋतुशुद्धा च ललना कटौ बद्ध्वा प्रसूयते

Transliteration

śvetārkapuṣpaṃ vidhinā gṛhītaṃ pūrvamantritam / ṛtuśuddhā ca lalanā kaṭau baddhvā prasūyate

Translation

വിധിപ്രകാരം എടുത്ത് മുൻകൂട്ടി മന്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ സംസ്കൃതമാക്കിയ ശ്വേത അർക്കപുഷ്പം—ഋതുശുദ്ധയായ സ്ത്രീ അരയിൽ കെട്ടിയാൽ പ്രസവം സംഭവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• श्वेतार्कपुष्पम्: white arka-flower
• श्वेतार्कपुष्पम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (श्वेतस्य अर्कस्य पुष्पम्)

• विधिना: by the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• गृहीतम्: taken/collected
• गृहीतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः

• पूर्वमन्त्रितम्: previously consecrated/enchanted with mantra
• पूर्वमन्त्रितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्रित (मन्त्र् धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वं मन्त्रितम्)

• ऋतुशुद्धा: purified after menstruation
• ऋतुशुद्धा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक) + शुद्ध (शुध् धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ऋतुना शुद्धा)

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

• ललना: woman
• ललना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• कटौ: at/on the waist
• कटौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• बद्ध्वा: having tied
• बद्ध्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• प्रसूयते: gives birth/delivers
• प्रसूयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritually sanctified natural substances (auṣadhi/puṣpa) combined with bodily purity and right procedure are said to yield desired worldly results (progeny).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa efficacy within vyavahāra; śraddhā and niyama as instruments for phala.

Application: If treated as traditional practice: emphasize safe, non-harmful observances—ritual cleanliness, supportive prenatal care, and devotional intention rather than unverified claims.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.189 (auṣadhi/mantra-prayoga context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the white arka flower (śvetārka) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse presents śvetārka-puṣpa as a ritually valid, mantra-consecrated aid used in a prescribed observance associated with successful childbirth.

How does this verse explain the role of mantra and ritual procedure (vidhi)?

It explicitly links efficacy to correct procedure (vidhi) and prior mantra-sanctification (pūrvamantritam), indicating the act is not merely symbolic but a formal samskāra-like rite.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes that traditional rites—when followed with purity, timing, and proper guidance—are meant to be performed carefully and ethically, ideally under qualified instruction rather than as casual folklore.