Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

नारी पुष्पादिने पीत्वा गोक्षीरेणोपवासतः / श्वेतार्कस्य तु वै मूलं तस्यास्तद्गुल्मशूलनुत्

Transliteration

nārī puṣpādine pītvā gokṣīreṇopavāsataḥ / śvetārkasya tu vai mūlaṃ tasyāstadgulmaśūlanut

Translation

Pada hari haidnya, jika seorang wanita berpuasa dan meminum susu lembu, maka akar śvetārka (arka putih) dikatakan dapat meredakan benjolan dalam perut serta sakit kolik yang dialaminya.

Word by Word

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पुष्पादिने: on the first day (beginning) of menstruation/flowering (puṣpa-ādi day)
• पुष्पादिने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुष्पं आदिः यस्मिन् दिने), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणे

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• गोक्षीरेण: with cow's milk
• गोक्षीरेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गवां क्षीरम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• उपवासतः: of one who is fasting
• उपवासतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (fasting person's)

• श्वेतार्कस्य: of the white arka plant
• श्वेतार्कस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (श्वेतः अर्कः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: व्यतिरेक/विरोधसूचक-अव्यय (particle)

• वै: certainly
• वै: Avadharana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

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

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गुल्मशूलनुत्: dispelling tumor/abdominal lump pain
• गुल्मशूलनुत्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुल्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + नुत् (प्रातिपदिक; √नुद्/नुत् ‘to drive away’)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुल्मस्य शूलस्य नुत्/नुदकः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Regulated conduct (upavāsa, appropriate diet) combined with herbal therapy supports healing; discipline is part of care.

Vedantic Theme: Moderation and self-restraint (niyama) stabilize the mind-body instrument used for dharma and higher aims.

Application: On the first day of menstruation, observe fasting (as stated), take cow’s milk, and administer śvetārka root as indicated for gulma-śūla (abdominal lump/colic), with careful oversight.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.189 (therapeutic prescriptions including women’s conditions)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of śvetārka (white arka) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents śvetārka root as a traditional therapeutic substance used to alleviate gulma (abdominal lump) and śūla (colicky pain), showing the text’s inclusion of practical healing guidance.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings overall?

Although the Garuda Purana is famous for afterlife and dharma topics, it also preserves applied dharma and health-related instructions; here it links a vrata-like observance (fasting) with a stated medicinal outcome.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights disciplined diet/fasting as a supportive practice and records an herb-based remedy; in modern life, such measures should be approached cautiously and with qualified medical guidance.