Shloka 87

Netra–Nāsa–Mukha Cikitsā, Vraṇa/Bhasma Prayoga, Jvara–Vāta Remedies, and Protective/Uccāṭana Procedures

Devanagari script

मार्जारपललं विष्ठा हरितालं च भावितम् / छाग मूत्रेण तल्लिप्तो मूषिको मूषिकान्हरेत्

Transliteration

mārjārapalalaṃ viṣṭhā haritālaṃ ca bhāvitam / chāga mūtreṇa tallipto mūṣiko mūṣikānharet

Translation

मार्जारपलल-विष्ठा-हरितालभावितं चूर्णं छागमूत्रेण लिप्तं कृत्वा, मूषिकोऽन्यान् मूषिकान् निवारयति।

Word by Word

• मार्जारपललम्: cat’s flesh
• मार्जारपललम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक) + पलल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मार्जारस्य पललम्)

• विष्ठा: excrement
• विष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरितालम्: orpiment (yellow arsenic)
• हरितालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भावितम्: prepared/treated
• भावितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु) → भावित (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृतप्रत्ययान्त (क्त/त-प्रत्यय), भूतकर्मणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• छागमूत्रेण: with goat’s urine
• छागमूत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (छागस्य मूत्रम्)

• तत्: with that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लिप्तः: smeared/anointed
• लिप्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिप् (धातु) → लिप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृतप्रत्ययान्त (क्त), भूतकर्मणि; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मूषिकः: a mouse/rat
• मूषिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूषिकान्: mice/rats
• मूषिकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हरेत्: should remove/drive away
• हरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Practical protection of the home through applied substances; efficacy over aesthetic purity in a utilitarian context.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra (pragmatic conduct) distinct from paramārtha; skillful means in worldly maintenance.

Application: Use strong-smelling/aversive compounds as deterrents; maintain hygiene and pest control with locally available materials (adapted to safe modern equivalents).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household/interior space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177.89 (fumigation to destroy insects); Garuda Purana 1.178.1-2 (mantra + substance for effect)

Characters & Entities

• Mouse
• Cat
• Goat

FAQs

What is the importance of this remedy in the Garuda Purana?

It preserves a traditional, text-based apotropaic method—using specific substances believed to repel pests—showing the Purana’s inclusion of practical household and ritual instructions alongside spiritual teaching.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse does not address the soul’s journey or afterlife doctrine; it is a pragmatic instruction about repelling mice, embedded within broader Purana material that also contains spiritual and ethical teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a takeaway, it reflects the principle of using prescribed means for protection and cleanliness; in modern practice, follow safe, non-toxic pest control and hygiene while understanding this verse as a historical ritual/folk-technical prescription.