Shloka 3

Devanagari script

पद्मरागप्रतीकाशंयुक्तं दशशतायुषा / षोडशाब्दाकृतिं रुद्र सततं दुग्धभोजनात्

Transliteration

padmarāgapratīkāśaṃyuktaṃ daśaśatāyuṣā / ṣoḍaśābdākṛtiṃ rudra satataṃ dugdhabhojanāt

Translation

ஓ ருத்ரா! இடையறாது பாலையே உணவாகக் கொண்டால், மனிதன் பத்மராகம் (மாணிக்கம்) போன்ற ஒளியைப் பெற்று, ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகள் ஆயுளும், பதினாறு வயது போன்ற உருவழகும் நிலைத்திருக்கும்।

Word by Word

• padmarāgapratīkāśam: ruby-like in lustre
• padmarāgapratīkāśam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padmarāga (प्रातिपदिक) + pratīkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (having the appearance/lustre of ruby)

• yuktam: endowed; possessed
• yuktam: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (धातु) → yukta (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (endowed/possessed)

• daśaśatāyuṣā: with a lifespan of a thousand years
• daśaśatāyuṣā: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (with a lifespan of ten hundreds = 1000 years)

• ṣoḍaśābdākṛtim: a sixteen-year-old form
• ṣoḍaśābdākṛtim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (a form/appearance of sixteen years)

• rudra: O Rudra
• rudra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• satatam: constantly
• satatam: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• dugdhabhojanāt: from a milk diet
• dugdhabhojanāt: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dugdha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (from milk-diet/consumption of milk)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra in a didactic section)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tejas and longevity are linked to disciplined, consistent nourishment (milk regimen).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva and ojas cultivation; bodily splendor as a byproduct, not the ultimate end.

Application: If adopting milk-based regimen, do so with moderation and suitability; aim for steadiness and vitality rather than vanity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.187.2 (milk for a week); Garuda Purana 1.187.4 (milk with honey and ghee for longevity)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of milk-diet (dugdha-bhojana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents constant milk-consumption as a sattvic discipline associated with bodily radiance, longevity, and youthful vigor—used as a prescriptive teaching on regulated living.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing disciplined, pure sustenance, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that one’s habits (ācāra) shape vitality and merit, which in turn influence one’s post-death condition and journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt dietary restraint and purity as a form of self-discipline; if milk suits one’s health and tradition, use it moderately and consistently as part of a regulated, sattvic lifestyle rather than indulgence.