Shloka 4

Auṣadha-Yoga: Medicinal Powders, External Therapies, Fumigation, and Vishnu as Supreme Remedy

Devanagari script

प्रियङ्गुनिम्बत्रिक्रटु गोमूत्रेणैव घर्षितम् / नसयमालेपनञ्चैव तथा चोद्वर्तनं हितम्

Transliteration

priyaṅgunimbatrikraṭu gomūtreṇaiva gharṣitam / nasayamālepanañcaiva tathā codvartanaṃ hitam

Translation

प्रियङ्गु-निम्ब-त्रिकटु गोमूत्रेण सम्यग्घर्षितं द्रव्यं हितकरम्। तदेव नस्यरूपेण, आलेपनरूपेण, तथा उद्वर्तनरूपेण च प्रयोज्यम्॥

Word by Word

• प्रियङ्गु-निम्ब-त्रिक्रटु: priyaṅgu, neem, and trikraṭu (as a mixture)
• प्रियङ्गु-निम्ब-त्रिक्रटु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियङ्गु (प्रातिपदिक) + निम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रिक्रटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• गोमूत्रेण: with cow’s urine
• गोमूत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; गो- + मूत्र (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• घर्षितम्: rubbed/ground
• घर्षितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घर्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• नस्यम्: nasal therapy (nasya)
• नस्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• आलेपनम्: smearing/application
• आलेपनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-लिप् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाववाचक कृदन्त (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उद्वर्तनम्: powder-rubbing/massage (udvartana)
• उद्वर्तनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्-वृत् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाववाचक कृदन्त (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; √धा/√हि-धातुजन्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body through prescribed, purity-coded remedies as part of right living.

Vedantic Theme: Śarīra as an instrument (sādhana) to be maintained for dharma and spiritual pursuit.

Application: Prepare the mixture (priyaṅgu, nimba, trikaṭu) with cow’s urine; apply as nasya, external paste, and udvartana as appropriate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.193 (auṣadha/udvartana context; surrounding verses on remedies and applications)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of purification remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights practical purification through herbal preparations—showing that ritual well-being also includes bodily cleansing methods (nasya, paste application, and udvartana) regarded as beneficial.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader emphasis on purity and disciplined conduct; such cleansing measures are presented as supportive practices within a dharmic life that prepares one for post-death transitions described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It can be taken as a reminder to adopt disciplined hygiene and traditional wellness practices with discernment—using safe, appropriate formulations under qualified guidance rather than treating every textual remedy as universally applicable.