Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

निम्बं कुष्ठं हरिद्रे द्वे शिग्रु सर्षपजं तथा / देवदारु पटोलञ्च धान्यं तक्रेण घर्षितम्

Transliteration

nimbaṃ kuṣṭhaṃ haridre dve śigru sarṣapajaṃ tathā / devadāru paṭolañca dhānyaṃ takreṇa gharṣitam

Translation

വേപ്പ്, കുഷ്ഠം, രണ്ട് ഹരിദ്രകൾ, ശിഗ്രു, സർഷപം; കൂടാതെ ദേവദാരു, പട്ടോലം, ധാന്യം—ഇവയെല്ലാം തക്രത്തിൽ (മോരിൽ) അരയ്ക്കണം.

Word by Word

• निम्बम्: neem
• निम्बम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कुष्ठम्: kuṣṭha (costus)
• कुष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• हरिद्रे: two kinds of turmeric
• हरिद्रे: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), द्विवचन

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• शिग्रु: moringa (śigru)
• शिग्रु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिग्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (प्रयोगे अव्यक्त-रूप)

• सर्षपजम्: made from mustard
• सर्षपजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्षपात् जातम् (पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनुक्रमबोधक अव्यय (adverb)

• देवदारु: deodar cedar
• देवदारु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; देवदारु (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• पटोलम्: pointed gourd (paṭola)
• पटोलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पटोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

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

• धान्यम्: grain/cereal
• धान्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तक्रेण: with buttermilk
• तक्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• घर्षितम्: rubbed/ground
• घर्षितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घर्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right preparation (saṃskāra) of substances determines efficacy; disciplined method is itself dharmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/dravya-saṃskāra: transformation through proper processing; moderation and orderliness in embodied life.

Application: Grind nimba, kuṣṭha, both haridrās, śigru, sarṣapa, devadāru, paṭola, and dhānya with takra to make a medicinal paste/powder base.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.193 (series of topical remedies; adjacent verses on udvartana and skin disorders)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this herbal mixture in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a specific, practical formulation—naming herbs and the preparation method (grinding with buttermilk)—used for cleansing or therapeutic application within the Purana’s guidance on health and purity.

Does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or the afterlife journey?

Not directly; it is a technical, recipe-like instruction focused on medicinal/purificatory preparation rather than Yama’s realm, preta states, or śrāddha rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights a traditional method: combining specific botanicals and preparing them as a buttermilk-based paste; any real-world use should be guided by qualified Ayurvedic expertise and safety considerations.