Shloka 13

Preparations of Medicated Ghee and Oils (Ghṛta–Taila Yoga); Brāhmī-ghṛta and Nārāyaṇa Taila

Devanagari script

नारायणमिदं तैलं विष्णुनोक्तं रुगर्दनम् / पृथक्तैलं घृतं कुर्यात्समस्तैरौषधैः पृथक्

Transliteration

nārāyaṇamidaṃ tailaṃ viṣṇunoktaṃ rugardanam / pṛthaktailaṃ ghṛtaṃ kuryātsamastairauṣadhaiḥ pṛthak

Translation

इदं नारायणतैलं विष्णुनोक्तं रुगर्दनम्; समस्तैरौषधैः पृथक् तैलं घृतं च पृथक् कुर्यात्।

Word by Word

• नारायणम्: (called) Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (तैलस्य नाम/विशेषण)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• तैलम्: oil
• तैलम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विष्णु-उक्तम्: spoken by Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-उक्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (वच्-धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्तान्त-विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (विष्णुना उक्तम्)

• रुग्-अर्दनम्: destroyer of pain/disease
• रुग्-अर्दनम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुज्/रुग् (प्रातिपदिक: रोग/पीडा) + अर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (रुग्णां/रुजां अर्दनम्)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)

• तैलम्: oil
• तैलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• कुर्यात्: should make/prepare
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• समस्तैः: with all (together)
• समस्तैः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• औषधैः: with medicines/herbs
• औषधैः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine provenance of healing arts; remembrance of Nārāyaṇa sanctifies and strengthens therapeutic practice.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as antaryāmin sustaining the body; grace expressed through right knowledge (vidyā) and right means (upāya).

Application: Prepare Nārāyaṇa-tailam as taught; make medicated oil and medicated ghee separately, each processed with the full set of medicines (not mixed prematurely).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.174.12 (vāta-roga scope); Garuda Purana 1.174.14-16 (ingredient options; dosage forms)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is Nārāyaṇa-taila according to this verse?

It is a named medicated oil attributed to Viṣṇu’s instruction, described as “rugardana,” i.e., a strong pain- and disease-crushing remedy.

Why does the verse say to make oil and ghee separately?

The verse explicitly instructs separate preparations, implying distinct processing/absorption properties for taila (oil) and ghṛta (ghee) even when using the same set of herbs.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights formulation discipline: follow precise preparation steps (separate bases, same herbs) rather than mixing indiscriminately; consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for safe ratios and indications.