Shloka 34

Bhaiṣajya-yogas: Digestive Modakas, Vāta-Śamana Oils, Karṇa-Roga Tailas, Kuṣṭha/Śvitra Applications, Vraṇa-Cikitsā, and Medhya Preparations

Devanagari script

कण्टकार्या रसप्रस्थं क्षीरप्रस्थसमन्वितम् / एतद्ब्राह्मीघृतं नाम स्मृतिमेधाकरं परम्

Transliteration

kaṇṭakāryā rasaprasthaṃ kṣīraprasthasamanvitam / etadbrāhmīghṛtaṃ nāma smṛtimedhākaraṃ param

Translation

Satu prastha jus kaṇṭakārī, digabungkan dengan satu prastha susu—itulah yang dinamakan Brāhmī-ghṛta; ia amat unggul untuk menajamkan ingatan dan kecerdasan.

Word by Word

• कण्टकार्या: kaṇṭakāryā (a plant)
• कण्टकार्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टकार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• रसप्रस्थम्: one prastha of juice/decoction
• रसप्रस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस + प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रसस्य प्रस्थम्)

• क्षीरप्रस्थसमन्वितम्: combined with one prastha of milk
• क्षीरप्रस्थसमन्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर + प्रस्थ + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (क्षीरप्रस्थेन समन्वितम्) विशेषणम्

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• ब्राह्मीघृतम्: brāhmī-ghee (medicated ghee)
• ब्राह्मीघृतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी + घृत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्राह्म्याः घृतम्)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (Apposition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (indeclinable; ‘by name/indeed’)

• स्मृतिमेधाकरम्: memory- and intellect-producing
• स्मृतिमेधाकरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति + मेधा + कर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (स्मृतिं मेधां च करोति) विशेषणम्

• परम्: supreme/excellent
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Medhā-smṛti-vardhana (enhancement of intellect and memory) as an aid to learning, discrimination (viveka), and śāstra-adhyayana.

Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-śuddhi and smṛti as supports for jñāna-yoga; clearer antaḥkaraṇa facilitates discernment of ātman from anātman.

Application: Prepare Brāhmī-ghṛta by cooking a prastha of kaṇṭakārī juice with a prastha of milk (as specified) and use as a medhya formulation under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.192 (medhya formulations; adjacent recipes promising smṛti/medhā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Brāhmī-ghṛta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Brāhmī-ghṛta as a superior medhya (cognition-supporting) preparation, specifically praised for improving smṛti (memory) and medhā (intellect).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not discuss the soul’s journey or afterlife; it belongs to a medicinal/health-oriented instruction emphasizing mental clarity and retention.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights the traditional principle of supporting memory and intellect through disciplined, measured herbal preparations; in modern practice, such formulations should be approached with qualified Ayurvedic guidance.