Shloka 31

Bhaiṣajya-yogas: Digestive Modakas, Vāta-Śamana Oils, Karṇa-Roga Tailas, Kuṣṭha/Śvitra Applications, Vraṇa-Cikitsā, and Medhya Preparations

Devanagari script

पटोलपत्रं कटुका मञ्जिष्ठा शारिवा निशा / जातीशमीनिम्बपत्रं मधुकं क्वथितं घृतम्

Transliteration

paṭolapatraṃ kaṭukā mañjiṣṭhā śārivā niśā / jātīśamīnimbapatraṃ madhukaṃ kvathitaṃ ghṛtam

Translation

പടോലപത്രം, കടുകാ, മഞ്ജിഷ്ഠാ, ശാരിവാ, നിശാ (മഞ്ഞൾ), കൂടാതെ ജാതി, ശമീ, നിംബപത്രം, മധുകം—ഇവയെല്ലാം ക്വഥിച്ച് ഘൃതം സിദ്ധമാക്കണം.

Word by Word

• पटोलपत्रम्: leaf of paṭola
• पटोलपत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पटोल (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पटोलस्य पत्रम्)

• कटुका: kaṭukā (a bitter herb)
• कटुका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

• मञ्जिष्ठा: mañjiṣṭhā (madder)
• मञ्जिष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मञ्जिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

• शारिवा: śārivā (Indian sarsaparilla)
• शारिवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

• निशा: niśā (turmeric)
• निशा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

• जातीशमीनिम्बपत्रम्: leaves of jasmine, śamī, and neem (collectively)
• जातीशमीनिम्बपत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाती (प्रातिपदिक) + शमी (प्रातिपदिक) + निम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (जाती-शमी-निम्बानां पत्रम्)

• मधुकम्: madhuka (licorice/sweet herb)
• मधुकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

• क्वथितम्: boiled
• क्वथितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्वथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (boiled/cooked)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge of dravya-guṇa (properties of substances) and saṃskāra (processing) creates a higher-order remedy.

Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-guided discernment (viveka) applied to prakṛti for alleviating duḥkha; harmonizing opposites through proper saṃyoga.

Application: Prepare medicated ghee by decocting the listed herbs/leaves and processing into ghṛta; use as directed for relevant conditions in the surrounding context.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-to-clinic materia medica

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.192 (Ayurvedic/medical section context)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of medicinal ghee (ghṛta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents ghṛta as a carrier for herbal decoctions, indicating a traditional method for internal purification and restoring balance using sattvic preparations.

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

Alongside descriptions of death rites and the preta journey, the text also preserves practical dharmic living guidance, including classical herbal formulations meant to sustain health and ritual fitness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical formulation reference: if used, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for safe identification, dosage, and suitability, especially for ghee-based preparations.