Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

देहं तैलाक्त गात्रं वै नयेदुद्वर्तनेन च / पामाः कुष्ठानि नश्येयुः कण्डूं हन्ति च निश्चितम्

Transliteration

dehaṃ tailākta gātraṃ vai nayedudvartanena ca / pāmāḥ kuṣṭhāni naśyeyuḥ kaṇḍūṃ hanti ca niścitam

Translation

ശരീരത്തിൽ എണ്ണ പുരട്ടി, തുടർന്ന് ഉദ്വർത്തനത്തോടെ നന്നായി മർദ്ദനം ചെയ്യണം. അതിനാൽ പാമയും കുഷ്ഠാദി ചർമ്മരോഗങ്ങളും നശിക്കുകയും ചൊറിച്ചിലും തീർച്ചയായി ശമിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും.

Word by Word

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तैल-आक्तम्: smeared with oil
• तैल-आक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्त (कृदन्त; √अञ्ज्/अक्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तैलेन आक्तम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• गात्रम्: the limbs/body
• गात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• नयेत्: one should lead/apply (i.e., treat)
• नयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• उद्वर्तनेन: by udvartana (powder massage)
• उद्वर्तनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक; √उद्-वृत् + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

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

• पामाः: eczema/scabies eruptions
• पामाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• कुष्ठानि: skin diseases/leprosy-type disorders
• कुष्ठानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• नश्येयुः: would perish/should disappear
• नश्येयुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• कण्डूम्: itching
• कण्डूम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्डू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• हन्ति: removes/destroys
• हन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

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

• निश्चितम्: certainly
• निश्चितम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निश्चित (कृदन्त; √नि-चित्/√निश्चि)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन प्रयोगः; निश्चयेन (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Regular bodily care and disciplined regimen reduce suffering; certainty comes from consistent practice.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha-nivṛtti through right action; body as a maintained vehicle rather than identity.

Application: Anoint the body with oil, then perform thorough udvartana (frictional rubbing) to alleviate scabies, kuṣṭha-like skin disorders, and itching.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.193 (udvartana-focused remedies; skin disease management)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of oil anointing and udvartana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents oiling the body followed by vigorous rubbing (udvartana) as a practical discipline that supports cleanliness and helps relieve specific skin ailments like scabies, broader skin disorders (kuṣṭha), and itching.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse is not about the afterlife journey; it focuses on bodily maintenance and health practices, reflecting the Purana’s inclusion of practical dharmic living alongside metaphysical teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a general takeaway, regular oiling and gentle-to-firm body rubbing/massage can be adopted as a hygiene and wellness routine; for serious skin disease, it should be combined with appropriate medical guidance.