Shloka 6

Upāyas for Cattle and Horses: Bonding, Parasites, Wounds, Swellings, and Mane Itching

Devanagari script

समसूर शालिबीजं पीतं तक्रेण घर्षितम् / क्षीरे गो-महीषस्यैव गोः पुंसश्च हितं भवेत्

Transliteration

samasūra śālibījaṃ pītaṃ takreṇa gharṣitam / kṣīre go-mahīṣasyaiva goḥ puṃsaśca hitaṃ bhavet

Translation

സമഭാഗം ശാലി‑ബീജം മോര് ചേർത്ത് അരച്ച് കുടിച്ച്, പശുവിന്റെയോ മഹിഷിയുടെയോ പാലോടുകൂടെ നൽകിയാൽ—അത് പശുവിനും മനുഷ്യനും ഹിതകരമാകും.

Word by Word

• समसूर: equal (quantity of) lentil/masūra (as ingredient)
• समसूर: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम + सूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (समः सूरः)

• शालिबीजम्: rice-seed (grain)
• शालिबीजम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शालेः बीजम्)

• पीतम्: drunk/imbibed
• पीतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थक (drunk/imbibed)

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

• घर्षितम्: rubbed/ground
• घर्षितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घर्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्षीरे: in milk
• क्षीरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गोमहीषस्य: of cow and buffalo
• गोमहीषस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + महीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (गोश्च महीषश्च)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• गोः: of a cow
• गोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुंसः: of a man
• पुंसः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be/should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Reciprocal care between humans and cattle; proper preparation (saṃskāra) makes food/remedy beneficial.

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-like reciprocity in daily life (interdependence of beings); sattvic maintenance of the body as an instrument of dharma.

Application: Prepare śāli seeds with buttermilk (as specified) and administer with cow/buffalo milk for benefit to both animal and caretaker, observing suitability and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.203 (series of veterinary/medical formulations); Garuda Purana 1.204.1 (transition to herb nomenclature)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Cow
• Buffalo

FAQs

What is the importance of food-based remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the text also preserves practical dharmic health guidance—simple, sattvic preparations (rice with buttermilk and milk) meant to support well-being and fitness for daily duties and rites.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like dharma and ritual observance?

By recommending a wholesome preparation involving cow/buffalo milk and buttermilk, it aligns bodily health with dharmic living—maintaining the body as a support for vrata, śrāddha, and other prescribed observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle of simple, digestible, traditionally approved foods—especially during observances—favoring mild preparations (rice with cultured dairy) that support steadiness and clarity.