Shloka 7

Bhāiṣajya-yoga: Lehyas for Kāsa–Śvāsa–Hikkā, Blood-Pacifying Drinks, Udvartana Depilation, and Dental Brightening

Devanagari script

हरितालं शङ्खचूर्णं कदलीदलभस्मना / एतद्द्रव्येण चोद्वर्त्य लोमशातनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

haritālaṃ śaṅkhacūrṇaṃ kadalīdalabhasmanā / etaddravyeṇa codvartya lomaśātanamuttamam

Translation

हरितालं शङ्खचूर्णं कदलीदलभस्मना सह। एतैर्द्रव्यैः शरीरं चोद्वर्त्य लोमशातनमुत्तमं भवति॥

Word by Word

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

• शङ्खचूर्णम्: conch-shell powder
• शङ्खचूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शङ्खस्य चूर्णम्)

• कदलीदलभस्मना: with ash of banana leaves
• कदलीदलभस्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदली (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक) + भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कदलीदलस्य भस्मना)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (द्रव्येण इत्यस्य)

• द्रव्येण: with the substance/mixture
• द्रव्येण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

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

• उद्वर्त्य: having rubbed (applied by rubbing)
• उद्वर्त्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having rubbed/after rubbing)

• लोमशातनम्: hair-removal (depilatory)
• लोमशातनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोम (प्रातिपदिक) + शातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोमानां शातनम्)

• उत्तमम्: excellent/best
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (लोमशातनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Application: Prepare a depilatory by mixing haritāla (orpiment), śaṅkha-cūrṇa (conch powder), and ash of banana leaves; apply by udvartana (rubbing/powder-massage) to remove body hair.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.181 (cosmetic/medical preparations; udvartana context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of udvartana (rubbing application) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents udvartana as a practical preparation/purificatory body-care procedure, giving a specific mixture used to remove body hair as part of ritual cleanliness and observance-related grooming.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to the Ācāra (conduct) section, emphasizing bodily preparation and cleanliness that support disciplined religious life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights the broader principle of maintaining cleanliness and disciplined preparation before religious practices; any physical application should be approached cautiously and, if attempted, only with safe modern substitutes and expert guidance.