Shloka 17

Auṣadha-Yoga: Medicinal Powders, External Therapies, Fumigation, and Vishnu as Supreme Remedy

Devanagari script

औषधंभगवान्विष्णुः संस्मृतो रोगनुद्भवेत् / ध्यातो ऽर्चितः स्तुतो वापि नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

auṣadhaṃbhagavānviṣṇuḥ saṃsmṛto roganudbhavet / dhyāto 'rcitaḥ stuto vāpi nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

യഥാർത്ഥ ഔഷധം ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണുവാണ്; അവനെ സ്മരിച്ചാൽ രോഗം അകലുന്നു। ധ്യാനം ചെയ്താലും, അർച്ചിച്ചാലും, സ്തുതിച്ചാലും—ഇതിൽ സംശയം വേണ്ട।

Word by Word

• औषधम्: medicine
• औषधम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• संस्मृतः: when remembered
• संस्मृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: संस्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्मृ)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्-उपसर्ग

• रोगनुत्: remover of disease
• रोगनुत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक) + नुत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; रोग-नुत् = 'disease-removing' (bahuvrīhi-like sense but form is determinative)

• भवेत्: would be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ध्यातः: when meditated upon
• ध्यातः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ध्यै)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अर्चितः: when worshipped
• अर्चितः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अर्च्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्तुतः: when praised
• स्तुतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्तु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (particle: 'or')

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: 'also/even')

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधबोधक-अव्यय (negation)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'here/in this matter')

• कार्या: necessary
• कार्या: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done/necessary)

• विचारणा: deliberation/inquiry
• विचारणा: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-smaraṇa is the supreme bhaiṣajya; devotion itself functions as a direct remedy, beyond debate.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha and nāma-smaraṇa as upāya; movement from vyavahāra remedies to paramārtha reliance on the Lord.

Application: Adopt daily remembrance (japa/smaraṇa), worship, and praise as a supportive healing discipline alongside appropriate care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.194.1 (sarvavyādhi-hara Vaiṣṇava kavaca); Garuda Purana sections on Viṣṇu-nāma and bhakti as protective means (general internal thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that mere remembrance (saṁsmaraṇa) of Lord Viṣṇu functions as a direct remedy, capable of removing illness, affirming the salvific and protective power of devotion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing after-death travel directly, it emphasizes a core Garuḍa Purāṇa principle: sustained devotion—through remembrance, meditation, worship, and praise—purifies and protects the being, supporting the soul’s auspicious course and reducing suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily practice of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa—simple remembrance, japa, brief meditation, or stotra-recitation—especially during illness or anxiety, treating devotion as a steady inner medicine.