Shloka 1

Domestic Therapeutics for Teeth, Ears, Women’s Kleda, Digestion, Poison-Check, and Eye Disorders

Devanagari script

ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / हरितालं यवक्षांरं पत्राङ्गं रक्तचन्दनम् / जातिहिङ्गुलकं लाक्षां पक्त्वा दन्तान्प्रलेपयेत्

Transliteration

'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / haritālaṃ yavakṣāṃraṃ patrāṅgaṃ raktacandanam / jātihiṅgulakaṃ lākṣāṃ paktvā dantānpralepayet

Translation

हरिरुवाच—हरितालं यवक्षारं पत्राङ्गं रक्तचन्दनम्। जातिहिङ्गुलकं लाक्षां पक्त्वा दन्तान् प्रलेपयेत्॥

Word by Word

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Discourse marker (शीर्षक/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरितालम्: orpiment
• हरितालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यवक्षारम्: barley-alkali
• यवक्षारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यवस्य क्षारः)

• पत्राङ्गम्: patrāṅga (a dye/drug)
• पत्राङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पत्रस्य अङ्गम्/पत्राङ्गः = a dye/drug name)

• रक्तचन्दनम्: red sandalwood
• रक्तचन्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तं चन्दनम्)

• जातिहिङ्गुलकम्: jāti-hiṅgulaka (a specific cinnabar preparation)
• जातिहिङ्गुलकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + हिङ्गुलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जात्या सह/जाति-विशिष्टं हिङ्गुलकम्)

• लाक्षाम्: lac
• लाक्षाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पक्त्वा: having cooked
• पक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); (having cooked/boiled)

• दन्तान्: teeth
• दन्तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• प्रलेपयेत्: should apply/coat
• प्रलेपयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लिप् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative/denominative sense: to apply/coat)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body (especially mouth/teeth) as part of disciplined living; knowledge transmitted under divine authority.

Vedantic Theme: Instrumentality of the body (sharira) for dharma; purity (shauca) supported by right action.

Application: Prepare the specified ingredients as a processed paste/coating and apply to teeth as directed (with caution due to mineral substances).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.179.2 (haritaki cleansing + coating); Garuda Purana 1.179.3-4 (ear remedies)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of this tooth-coating instruction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional formulation (using mineral and resinous substances) presented as a practical regimen for bodily upkeep, showing that the text also includes applied guidance beyond purely metaphysical topics.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

While much of the Garuda Purana is known for afterlife and dharma discussions, this passage reflects the Purana’s encyclopedic style—embedding ritual and health-related practices within the sacred dialogue of Hari.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as historical traditional knowledge; if one wishes to explore it, consult qualified practitioners because ingredients like haritāla (orpiment) can be toxic and are not suitable for casual use.