Shloka 3
पिबेच्छल्मलिमूलं यः पुष्यर्क्षे रुद्र वारिणा / तस्मिन्नपास्तदशना नागाः स्युर्नात्र संशयः
pibecchalmalimūlaṃ yaḥ puṣyarkṣe rudra vāriṇā / tasminnapāstadaśanā nāgāḥ syurnātra saṃśayaḥ
पुष्यर्क्षे रुद्रवारिणा शल्मलिमूलं यः पिबेत्। तस्मिन्नपास्तदशना नागाः स्युः, नात्र संशयः।
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, within the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)
Concept: Combined ritual potency (Rudra-sambandha) and herbal action can neutralize threats; śāstra prescribes specific means and times.
Vedantic Theme: Integration of daiva (sacred consecration) and puruṣakāra (human action) within ordered causality.
Application: On Puṣya, drink śālmali root mixed with ‘Rudra-water’ as a protective measure said to render nāgas fangless toward the person.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: personal ingestion/field collection context
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.191: Puṣya-based anti-sarpa remedies; Rudra/Śiva addressed as Vṛṣadhvaja
FAQs
This verse presents Puṣya as an auspicious timing-marker (nakṣatra) that strengthens a protective rite—here, consuming śalmali-root with Rudra-water to neutralize serpent danger.
It states a specific ritual-herbal measure: drinking śalmali root preparation on Puṣya with Rudra-associated water results in nāgas becoming ‘apāsta-daśana’ (rendered fangless) toward the practitioner.
As a takeaway, it emphasizes disciplined timing (auspicious days) and sanctified intention in protective practices; for real-world safety, one should still rely on medical care and responsible precautions regarding snakes.