Shloka 23

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

घासैर्दूर्वा सर्वरोगे प्रथमे ऽह्नि पलं ददेत् / विवर्धयेत्ततः कर्षमेकाह्नि पलपञ्चकम्

Transliteration

ghāsairdūrvā sarvaroge prathame 'hni palaṃ dadet / vivardhayettataḥ karṣamekāhni palapañcakam

Translation

ताजी घास व दूर्वा यांसह सर्वरोग-शमनासाठी पहिल्या दिवशी एक पल द्यावा. नंतर मात्रा वाढवीत जावी—एक कर्षापासून सुरू करून एका दिवशी पाच पलपर्यंत.

Word by Word

• घासैः: with fodder/grass
• घासैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दूर्वा: dūrvā grass
• दूर्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वरोगे: in all diseases
• सर्वरोगे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘of all diseases’)

• प्रथमे: on the first
• प्रथमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular) (अह्नि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पलम्: one pala (measure)
• पलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) (मात्रा/परिमाण)

• ददेत्: should give
• ददेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• विवर्धयेत्: should increase
• विवर्धयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृध् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘cause to increase’)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• कर्षम्: one karṣa (measure)
• कर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular) (मात्रा/परिमाण)

• एकाह्नि: in one day
• एकाह्नि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास (‘one-day’)

• पलपञ्चकम्: five palas (total)
• पलपञ्चकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (measure-determinative: ‘a set of five palas’)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Measured escalation (mātrā-vṛddhi) and discipline in treatment; healing through regulated practice rather than haste.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic order (niyama) in bodily care supports steadiness of mind.

Application: Administer the stated preparation beginning with one pala on day one, then increase dose progressively up to five palas per day, adjusting to strength and response under supervision.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: natural landscape/ritual grass

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.201 (dose, measures, and formulations sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Dūrvā

FAQs

What is the importance of dūrvā in Garuda Purana remedies?

This verse treats dūrvā as a broadly therapeutic herb used in a structured, increasing-dose regimen aimed at alleviating “all diseases” (sarvaroga).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes if it is not about afterlife rituals?

Garuda Purana also preserves practical dharma for embodied life—health, diet, and remedial measures—so the soul’s journey is supported by maintaining the body through disciplined regimen.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow the principle of gradual dosing and measured intake under qualified guidance; use traditional remedies only with proper identification of herbs and awareness of safety/contraindications.