Shloka 14

Strīroga–Prasūti–Bāla Cikitsā, Viṣa-haraṇa, Rasāyana, Ṛtucaryā, Pañcakarma-saṅgraha

Devanagari script

कुष्ठा वचाभया ब्राह्मी मधुरा क्षौद्रसर्पिषा / वर्णायुः कान्तिजननं लेह्यं वालम्य दापयेत्

Transliteration

kuṣṭhā vacābhayā brāhmī madhurā kṣaudrasarpiṣā / varṇāyuḥ kāntijananaṃ lehyaṃ vālamya dāpayet

Translation

కుష్ఠ, వచా, అభయా, బ్రాహ్మీ, మధురా—ఇవన్నీ తేనె, నెయ్యితో కలిపి లేహ్యంగా చేసి బాలుడికి చప్పరించాలి; ఇది వర్ణం, ఆయుష్షు, కాంతిని పెంపొందిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• कुष्ठा: kuṣṭhā (herb)
• कुष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वचा: vacā (sweet flag)
• वचा: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अभया: abhayā (harītakī)
• अभया: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• ब्राह्मी: brāhmī (bacopa) (with vacā and abhayā)
• ब्राह्मी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वचा-अभया-ब्राह्मी (समाहार/समुच्चयार्थे)

• मधुरा: sweet
• मधुरा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्षौद्र: with honey
• क्षौद्र: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• सर्पिषा: with ghee
• सर्पिषा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्षौद्र-सर्पिषा = मधुना च घृतेन च (instrumental)

• वर्ण: of complexion
• वर्ण: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• आयुः: (for) lifespan
• आयुः: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; वर्ण-आयुः = वर्णस्य च आयुषः च (for complexion and lifespan)

• कान्ति: of luster
• कान्ति: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• जननम्: generation/producing
• जननम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कान्ति-जननम् = कान्तेः जननम् (producing luster)

• लेह्यम्: a lickable paste/electuary
• लेह्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेह्य (प्रातिपदिक; √लिह् ‘to lick’ + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मणि साध्य (lickable electuary)

• वालम्: child/infant
• वालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थसूचक/उद्धरणचिह्न

• आम्य: raw/undigested (reading uncertain)
• आम्य: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)

• दापयेत्: should administer/give (to be taken)
• दापयेत्: Pravartaka (Causative agent/प्रवर्तक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nurturing tejas and longevity through disciplined care; the body as an instrument for dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Embodiment as a field (kṣetra) to be maintained for higher aims; sattvic support of life.

Application: Use age-appropriate, safe formulations (lehya) to support immunity, complexion, and strength; avoid excess and ensure suitability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household/vaidya-setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.172 (rasāyana/lehya prescriptions for children)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this lehya (lickable preparation) in the Garuda Purana?

The verse preserves a rasāyana-style recipe aimed at supporting a child’s vitality—complexion (varṇa), longevity (āyuḥ), and radiance (kānti).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This chapter segment is medical/practical rather than eschatological; it focuses on sustaining life and wellbeing, not the soul’s post-death route.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as traditional knowledge; because herbs and honey/ghee dosing can be sensitive (especially for infants), seek professional guidance before use.