Shloka 15

Strīroga–Prasūti–Bāla Cikitsā, Viṣa-haraṇa, Rasāyana, Ṛtucaryā, Pañcakarma-saṅgraha

Devanagari script

स्तन्याभावे पयश्छागं गव्यं वा तद्गुणं पिवेत् / स्वेदनं नाग्निशोफार्ते मृदा स्यादग्नितप्तया

Transliteration

stanyābhāve payaśchāgaṃ gavyaṃ vā tadguṇaṃ pivet / svedanaṃ nāgniśophārte mṛdā syādagnitaptayā

Translation

Jika tiada susu ibu, hendaklah diminum susu kambing, atau susu lembu yang seumpama sifatnya. Bagi yang menderita bengkak, lakukan tuam/peluh tanpa api, dengan tanah liat yang dipanaskan oleh bahang.

Word by Word

• स्तन्य: of breast-milk
• स्तन्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्तन्य-अभावे = स्तन्यस्य अभावे (in absence of milk)

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• छागम्: goat’s
• छागम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पयः-विशेषण (goat’s)

• गव्यम्: cow’s
• गव्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पयः-विशेषण (cow’s)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Reference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• गुणम्: with the same qualities
• गुणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तद्-गुणम् = तस्य गुणम् (having similar qualities)

• पिवेत्: should drink
• पिवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• स्वेदनम्: sudation/fomentation
• स्वेदनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वेदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अग्नि: of fire
• अग्नि: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• शोफ: of swelling
• शोफ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• आर्ते: in the afflicted (person)
• आर्ते: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; न-अग्नि-शोफ-आर्ते = अग्निशोफेन आर्ते (in one afflicted with erysipelas-like swelling)

• मृदा: with clay/earth
• मृदा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अग्नि: by fire
• अग्नि: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• तप्तया: heated
• तप्तया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → तप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; अग्नि-तप्तया = अग्निना तप्तया (heated by fire)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahimsa and appropriateness (yukti): choose substitutes and therapies that minimize harm.

Vedantic Theme: Right action guided by discernment (viveka) within embodied constraints.

Application: When breast-milk is unavailable, use suitable animal milk; treat swelling with non-burning warmth (heated clay) rather than direct fire.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/clinic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.172 (infant feeding alternatives; śopha management)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the Garuda Purana?

It gives practical guidance for infant nourishment when breast-milk is absent and also outlines a safer style of fomentation for swelling using warmed clay rather than direct fire.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not discuss the soul’s journey; it is a health and care instruction within the broader teaching dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a traditional reference, it highlights the need for appropriate substitutes and gentle heat therapy; modern application should follow pediatric and medical safety standards.