Shloka 11

Dhūpa-Lepa-Mantra-Prayoga: Vaśīkaraṇa, Rakṣā, Jvara-nāśa, and Stambhana Applications

Devanagari script

बला चैव सर्जरसं सौवीरसर्षपास्तथा / सर्पयूकामक्षिकाणां धूमो मशकनाशनः

Transliteration

balā caiva sarjarasaṃ sauvīrasarṣapāstathā / sarpayūkāmakṣikāṇāṃ dhūmo maśakanāśanaḥ

Translation

Bala (Sida cordifolia), bersama damar pokok śarja, serta sauvīra dan biji sawi—apabila digunakan untuk pengasapan—menghalau ular, kutu dan lalat; dan asapnya memusnahkan nyamuk.

Word by Word

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphasis)

• सर्जरसम्: resin/juice of sārja tree
• सर्जरसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• सौवीरसर्षपाः: mustard from Sauvīra region
• सौवीरसर्षपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौवीर (प्रातिपदिक) + सरषप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (determinative)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise')

• सर्पयूकामक्षिकाणाम्: of snakes, lice, and flies
• सर्पयूकामक्षिकाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + यूका (प्रातिपदिक) + मक्षिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (समाहारद्वन्द्वे नपुंसकत्वं सम्भवति; अत्र षष्ठी बहुवचन), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्वसमासः (copulative)

• धूमः: smoke/fumigation
• धूमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मशकनाशनः: mosquito-destroying
• मशकनाशनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मशक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protection of life and health through orderly preventive measures; cleanliness and safeguarding the home are part of right conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order (ṛta-like) in daily life; care of the body as an instrument for higher aims.

Application: Adopt safe pest-control and hygiene; interpret fumigation as early public-health practice; avoid harmful smoke exposure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.180.10; Garuda Purana 1.180.9

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of fumigation (dhūpa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats dhūpa as a practical purification and protection measure—using specific herbs/resins to repel harmful creatures and maintain cleanliness in living or ritual spaces.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond afterlife topics?

It shows that the text also preserves applied āchāra (conduct) guidance—everyday protective and hygienic measures—alongside its better-known teachings on death rites and the afterlife.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use safe, traditional fumigation or herbal incense practices (with appropriate modern precautions) to support cleanliness and insect control, especially in spaces used for worship or ritual observance.