Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

बला चातिबला रास्ना श्वदंष्ट्रा च पुनर्नवा / एरण्डः शारिवा पर्णो गुडूची कपिकच्छुका

Transliteration

balā cātibalā rāsnā śvadaṃṣṭrā ca punarnavā / eraṇḍaḥ śārivā parṇo guḍūcī kapikacchukā

Translation

बला अतिबला रास्ना, श्वदंष्ट्रा पुनर्नवा; एरण्डः शारिवा पर्णो, गुडूची कपिकच्छुका—एतेऽपि भेषजद्रव्यगणाः परिकीर्तिताः।

Word by Word

• balā: balā (Sida cordifolia)
• balā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

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

• ati-balā: atibalā (a medicinal plant)
• ati-balā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + balā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (ati + balā) — औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

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

• śva-daṃṣṭrā: śvadaṃṣṭrā (gokṣura/tribulus, lit. 'dog-tooth')
• śva-daṃṣṭrā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śva (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śuno daṃṣṭrā) — औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

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

• punar-navā: punarnavā
• punar-navā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: punar (अव्यय) + navā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (punar + navā) — औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

• eraṇḍaḥ: castor (eraṇḍa)
• eraṇḍaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eraṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

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

• parṇaḥ: parṇa (leaf/herb named Parṇa)
• parṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

• guḍūcī: guḍūcī (tinospora)
• guḍūcī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guḍūcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

• kapikacchukā: kapikacchū (mucuna)
• kapikacchukā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक) + kacchū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kapeḥ kacchū) — औषधिद्रव्य-नाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a medicinal/Ayurveda-oriented section)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct naming and grouping of remedies; transmission of practical knowledge as a form of dharmic instruction.

Vedantic Theme: Ordered knowledge within prakṛti; using sattvic means to reduce suffering.

Application: Collect and verify the listed herbs (balā, atibalā, rāsnā, śvadaṃṣṭrā, punarnavā, eraṇḍa, śārivā, parṇa, guḍūcī, kapikacchū) for decoction/oil processing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.192.4 (preceding herb list); Garuda Purana 1.192.6 (boiling and oil-cooking procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herbs like Guḍūcī and Punarnavā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional Ayurvedic materia medica within the Purana, indicating practical healing knowledge (strengthening, rejuvenation, and vāta/urinary support) alongside spiritual teachings.

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

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a therapeutic/herbal enumeration, showing the text’s broader scope that includes health disciplines supporting dharmic living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reference point for traditional herb identification and consult qualified Ayurvedic practitioners for safe, individualized use—especially for potent herbs like castor (eraṇḍa) and kapikacchū.