Shloka 4

Ṛtucaryā, Āhāra–Aushadha Prayoga, Viṣa-haraṇa, and Mantra Procedures

Devanagari script

अतसीमाषगोधूमचूर्णं कृत्वा तु पिप्पली / घृतेन लेपयेद्गत्रमोभिः सार्धं विचक्षणः / कन्दर्पसदृशो मर्त्यो नित्यं भवति शङ्कर !

Transliteration

atasīmāṣagodhūmacūrṇaṃ kṛtvā tu pippalī / ghṛtena lepayedgatramobhiḥ sārdhaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ / kandarpasadṛśo martyo nityaṃ bhavati śaṅkara !

Translation

О Шанкара! Разумный пусть приготовит порошок из атаси (лён), маши (чёрный грам) и годхума (пшеница), смешает с пиппали (длинный перец) и, соединив с гхи (ghṛta) и волосками тела, нанесёт на тело; тогда смертный постоянно становится прекрасным, подобно Кандарпе (Каме).

Word by Word

• अतसीमाषगोधूमचूर्णम्: powder of flax, black gram, and wheat
• अतसीमाषगोधूमचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतसी + माष + गोधूम + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समाहार-तत्पुरुष/समुच्चयार्थक (atasī-māṣa-godhūma-चूर्णम् = powder of flax, black-gram, wheat)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Nipata (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/अन्वय (particle)

• पिप्पली: long pepper (pippalī)
• पिप्पली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिप्पली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• लेपयेत्: should apply/smear
• लेपयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु; causative/णिजन्त)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative: 'to smear/apply')

• गात्रम्: the body/limbs
• गात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उभिः: with both (hands/sides)
• उभिः: Karana (Instrument/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• सार्धम्: together/along with
• सार्धम्: Sahakaraka (Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (adverb/preposition: 'together with')

• विचक्षणः: a discerning person
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• कन्दर्पसदृशः: like Kāma (Cupid)
• कन्दर्पसदृशः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कन्दर्प + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कन्दर्पस्य सदृशः) मर्त्य-विशेषण

• मर्त्यः: a mortal/man
• मर्त्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूप)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शङ्कर: O Śaṅkara!
• शङ्कर: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating a remedy; vocative 'Śaṅkara' appears within the verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External regimen (lepa/anulepana) and disciplined self-care can enhance appearance; worldly refinement is acceptable when aligned with restraint and purpose.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-cultivation through cleanliness and regulated living; body as a vehicle, not the Self.

Application: Prepare powder of atasī, māṣa, godhūma; combine with pippalī; apply with ghee (as base) as a body paste for complexion/attractiveness (traditional claim).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.182 (cosmetic/tonic preparations)

Characters & Entities

• Shankara
• Kandarpa

FAQs

What is the importance of herbal anointments in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a practical, ritual-adjacent bodily application (lepa) using grains, spices, and ghee, reflecting the Purana’s inclusion of traditional remedies alongside dharma teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the after-death journey here; instead, it gives a worldly (laukika) practice aimed at physical beauty, showing that the text also contains guidance for embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical traditional formulation; if one wishes to apply it, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner and consider safety/allergies rather than using it blindly.