Shloka 59

Nidāna of Vātarakta and Āvaraṇa of Vāyu; Doṣa-wise Lakṣaṇas and Triphalā-Yoga Remedies

Devanagari script

शतावरी गुडूच्यग्निः शुण्ठीमूषलिका बला / पुनर्नवा च बृहती निर्गुण्डी निम्बपत्रकम्

Transliteration

śatāvarī guḍūcyagniḥ śuṇṭhīmūṣalikā balā / punarnavā ca bṛhatī nirguṇḍī nimbapatrakam

Translation

शतावरी, गुडूची, चित्रक (अग्नी), सुंठ, मूषलिका, बला; तसेच पुनर्नवा, बृहती, निर्गुंडी व कडुनिंबाची पाने—ही या उपचारातील औषधी द्रव्ये आहेत।

Word by Word

• शतावरी: śatāvarī (Asparagus racemosus)
• शतावरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतावरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गुडूची: guḍūcī (Tinospora cordifolia)
• गुडूची: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुडूची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अग्निः: agni (digestive fire; here a drug-name ‘citraka’/‘agni’)
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शुण्ठी: dry ginger
• शुण्ठी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुण्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मूषलिका: mūṣalikā (a medicinal herb)
• मूषलिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषलिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• बला: balā (Sida cordifolia)
• बला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• पुनर्नवा: punarnavā (Boerhavia diffusa)
• पुनर्नवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुनर्नवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• बृहती: bṛhatī (Solanum indicum)
• बृहती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• निर्गुण्डी: nirguṇḍī (Vitex negundo)
• निर्गुण्डी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्गुण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• निम्बपत्रकम्: neem leaf
• निम्बपत्रकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्ब + पत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निम्बस्य पत्रकम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (continuing instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge of remedies (yukti) and proper selection of herbs for sustaining life.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti’s guṇas harnessed through knowledge; disciplined use of nature supports the embodied jīva’s aims.

Application: Identify and assemble the listed herbs (śatāvarī, guḍūcī, citraka, śuṇṭhī, mūṣalikā, balā, punarnavā, bṛhatī, nirguṇḍī, nimba-patra) as components in the regimen described in the surrounding verses.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.167.58-61 (continuation of the same therapeutic sequence; formulation options and dosing follow)

Characters & Entities

• Shatavari
• Guduchi
• Citraka (Agni)
• Shunthi
• Musali
• Bala
• Punarnava
• Brihati
• Nirgundi
• Neem (Nimba)

FAQs

What is the importance of these herbs in Garuda Purana?

They function as a curated materia medica—tonics, digestives, anti-inflammatory and rejuvenative herbs—showing the Purana’s practical guidance for maintaining health alongside dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

The verse is not about Yama or preta-journey; it emphasizes bodily discipline through medicinal herbs, a supportive foundation for spiritual duties and ritual steadiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a traditional inventory of commonly used Ayurvedic botanicals; use under guidance due to differing dosages, interactions, and contraindications.