Shloka 9

Auṣadha-Yoga: Medicinal Powders, External Therapies, Fumigation, and Vishnu as Supreme Remedy

Devanagari script

बलाग्निवर्धकं चूर्णं पिबेदुष्णेन वारिणा / जीर्णे ऽजीर्णे तु भुञ्जति मांस्यादिघृतमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

balāgnivardhakaṃ cūrṇaṃ pibeduṣṇena vāriṇā / jīrṇe 'jīrṇe tu bhuñjati māṃsyādighṛtamuttamam

Translation

Hendaklah diminum serbuk yang menguatkan daya hidup dan menyalakan api pencernaan, diambil bersama air suam. Sesudah itu, sama ada makanan telah hadam atau belum, bolehlah dinikmati ghee yang unggul, dimasak dengan daging dan bahan-bahan berkhasiat seumpamanya.

Word by Word

• बलाग्निवर्धकम्: strengthening the digestive fire
• बलाग्निवर्धकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + अग्नि + वर्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘चूर्णम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• चूर्णम्: powder
• चूर्णम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• उष्णेन: with warm (water)
• उष्णेन: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; ‘वारिणा’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• वारिणा: with water
• वारिणा: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करणम्

• जीर्णे: when (food) is digested
• जीर्णे: Adhikarana (Locative circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी—‘(अन्ने) जीर्णे’

• अजीर्णे: when (food) is undigested
• अजीर्णे: Adhikarana (Locative circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी—‘(अन्ने) अजीर्णे’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• भुञ्जति: eats/should eat
• भुञ्जति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मांस: meat
• मांस: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासपूर्वपद (अव्यक्त-विभक्ति)

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Compound member
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समासे ‘आदि’ (etc.)

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• उत्तमम्: excellent/best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘घृतम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body through proper digestion (agni) and appropriate nourishment as a support for life and duty.

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as an instrument (sadhana) requiring maintenance; moderation and right means (yukti) in sustaining prana.

Application: Use warm water as anupana for agni-deepana powders; prioritize digestion before heavy nourishment; adopt diet as medicine under suitable constitution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.193 (Ayurveda/ausadha-prakarana context: agni, ajirna, shula, jvara, kasa, virecana)

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of strengthening agni (digestive fire) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats agni as central to sustaining bala (vital strength), advising a warming, agni-kindling preparation taken with warm water to support digestion and vitality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing bodily vitality and digestion, it reflects the text’s broader concern with maintaining the embodied condition through disciplined regimen, which supports dharmic living rather than describing an after-death route here.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize digestibility and warming supports (like warm water) when digestion is weak, and use nourishing fats judiciously—aligning diet with digestive capacity rather than eating indiscriminately.