Shloka 2

Mantra-Pūta Auṣadhi-Prayoga: Roots, Amulets, and Protections from Disease and Graha/Bhūta Affliction

Devanagari script

मूलं गोक्षुरकस्यैव चर्वित्वा नीललोहित / दन्तकीटव्यथा नश्येत्सुरासुरविमर्दन्

Transliteration

mūlaṃ gokṣurakasyaiva carvitvā nīlalohita / dantakīṭavyathā naśyetsurāsuravimardan

Translation

Wahai Nīlalohita, penghancur para Deva dan Asura: dengan mengunyah akar gokṣuraka, lenyaplah sakit gigi yang disebabkan oleh ‘ulat gigi’.

Word by Word

• मूलम्: root
• मूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• गोक्षुरकस्य: of gokṣuraka (tribulus)
• गोक्षुरकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोक्षुरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• चर्वित्वा: having chewed
• चर्वित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्व् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• नीललोहित: O blue-and-red one (epithet)
• नीललोहित: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (नीलश्च लोहितश्च), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• दन्तकीटव्यथा: tooth-worm pain/toothache
• दन्तकीटव्यथा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कीट (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दन्ते कीटस्य व्यथा / दन्तकीटजन्या व्यथा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• नश्येत्: should perish/cease
• नश्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुरासुरविमर्दन्: O crusher of gods and demons
• सुरासुरविमर्दन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + विमर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सुरासुराणां विमर्दनः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, presenting a remedial/ritual-utility statement)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Body-maintenance (deha-dhāraṇa) through appropriate herbs is part of right living; pain is met with disciplined, simple measures.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumental body-care supports dharma and higher pursuits; the body is a means, not the end.

Application: Chew gokṣuraka root to alleviate dantakīṭa-vedanā (tooth-worm/toothache), alongside cleanliness and appropriate care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.189 (series of specific remedies)

Characters & Entities

• Nīlalohita

FAQs

What is the importance of gokṣuraka (gokshura) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents gokṣuraka root as a practical remedy: chewing its root is said to remove pain attributed to dantakīṭa (tooth-worm/tooth decay), showing the text’s applied medicinal tradition.

Does this verse describe the soul’s journey after death?

No. Unlike Garuda Purana sections on preta-yātrā or Yama’s realm, this verse is a pragmatic healing instruction focused on relieving dental pain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a traditional reference, it points to herbal support for dental discomfort; in modern practice, it can be treated as complementary heritage knowledge while still seeking appropriate dental care for tooth infection or decay.