Shloka 4

Bhaiṣajya-yogas: Digestive Modakas, Vāta-Śamana Oils, Karṇa-Roga Tailas, Kuṣṭha/Śvitra Applications, Vraṇa-Cikitsā, and Medhya Preparations

Devanagari script

बिल्वाग्निमन्थः श्योनाकपाटलापारिभद्रकम् / प्रसारण्यश्वगन्धा च बृहती कण्टकारिका

Transliteration

bilvāgnimanthaḥ śyonākapāṭalāpāribhadrakam / prasāraṇyaśvagandhā ca bṛhatī kaṇṭakārikā

Translation

बिल्वाग्निमन्थौ, श्योनाकः पाटला पारिभद्रकः; प्रसारणी अश्वगन्धा च, बृहती कण्टकारिका च—एते द्रव्यगणाः परिकीर्तिताः।

Word by Word

• bilva-agni-manthaḥ: bilva and agnimantha (herbs)
• bilva-agni-manthaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक) + agni-mantha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (bilvaḥ ca agnimanthaḥ ca) — औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

• śyonāka-pāṭalā-pāribhadrakam: śyonāka, pāṭalā, and pāribhadraka (group)
• śyonāka-pāṭalā-pāribhadrakam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śyonāka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṭalā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāribhadraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समाहार (śyonākaḥ+pāṭalā+pāribhadraka)

• prasāraṇī-aśvagandhā: prasāraṇī and aśvagandhā
• prasāraṇī-aśvagandhā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasāraṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + aśvagandhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (prasāraṇī ca aśvagandhā ca)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• bṛhatī: bṛhatī (a medicinal plant)
• bṛhatī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

• kaṇṭakārikā: kaṇṭakārikā (a medicinal plant)
• kaṇṭakārikā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭakārikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge (vidyā) of names, groupings, and properties of herbs as a legitimate purāṇic instruction for welfare (loka-hita).

Vedantic Theme: Right knowledge applied to embodied life; prakṛti as a field of ordered intelligibility.

Application: Identify and assemble the listed herbs correctly (bilva, agnimantha, śyonāka, pāṭalā, pāribhadraka, prasāraṇī, aśvagandhā, bṛhatī, kaṇṭakārikā) for subsequent decoction/oil preparations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.192.5 (continuation of herb list); Garuda Purana 1.192.6 (processing into decoction/oil)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herbs like Bilva and Ashwagandha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as an authoritative enumeration of sacred/medicinal plants, supporting ritual and purificatory contexts where specific named substances are prescribed or remembered.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it provides a technical list of plants that can be associated with dharmic observances and bodily/ritual purification that accompany broader teachings on death rites and merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reference for correct traditional names (Sanskrit/IAST) when studying or documenting dharmic rituals or Ayurveda-linked practices, ensuring accurate identification before any real-world use.