Shloka 38

Devanagari script

रक्तवन्दनमञ्जिष्ठालक्षाणां कर्षकेण वा / यष्टीमधुकुङ्कुमाभ्यां सप्ताहान्मुखकान्तिकृत्

Transliteration

raktavandanamañjiṣṭhālakṣāṇāṃ karṣakeṇa vā / yaṣṭīmadhukuṅkumābhyāṃ saptāhānmukhakāntikṛt

Translation

Ambillah satu karṣa cendana merah, mañjiṣṭhā dan lak; atau gunakan akar manis (yaṣṭīmadhū) serta saffron. Diamalkan selama tujuh hari, ia menjadikan wajah berseri dan bercahaya.

Word by Word

• रक्तवन्दनमञ्जिष्ठालक्षाणाम्: of red sandal, manjishtha, and lac
• रक्तवन्दनमञ्जिष्ठालक्षाणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्तवन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + मञ्जिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) बहुवचनम्; द्वन्द्वसमासः (रक्तवन्दनं च मञ्जिष्ठा च लक्षा च)

• कर्षकेण: with one karṣa (measure)
• कर्षकेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्षक (प्रातिपदिक; मान)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः (or)

• यष्टीमधुकुङ्कुमाभ्याम्: with licorice and saffron
• यष्टीमधुकुङ्कुमाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टीमधु (प्रातिपदिक) + कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) द्विवचनम्; द्वन्द्वसमासः (यष्टीमधु च कुङ्कुमं च)

• सप्ताहात्: after a week
• सप्ताहात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्ताह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी) एकवचनम्; अपादानार्थे (after/from)

• मुखकान्तिकृत्: producing facial radiance
• मुखकान्तिकृत्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त, √कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचनम्; कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; समासः (मुखस्य कान्तिं करोति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Regulated practice (niyama) and correct measure (mātrā) yield predictable results; beauty is approached through disciplined routine.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta/niyama) in action; the guṇa of sattva cultivated through cleanliness and measured living.

Application: Use 1 karṣa each of rakta-candana, mañjiṣṭhā, and lākṣā; or an alternative of yaṣṭimadhu with kuṅkuma; apply/observe regimen for seven days for mukha-kānti.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177 (cosmetic/rasāyana-like household remedies)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of mukhakānti (facial radiance) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents mukhakānti as an outcome of disciplined, time-bound herbal practice, reflecting the Purana’s concern with bodily wellbeing and auspicious appearance as part of a regulated dharmic life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the after-death journey; instead, it belongs to practical instruction sections where Vishnu teaches Garuda observable disciplines (here, herbal regimen) that support health and vitality in embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a traditional regimen emphasizing consistency for seven days; if applying in modern life, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for safe dosage and suitability, especially for saffron and resin-based ingredients.