Shloka 9

Keśa-vardhana, Pālitā-nāśa, Śiraḥ-roga and Karṇa-śūla Cikitsā

Hair Growth, Greying Reversal, Head & Ear Remedies

Devanagari script

नीली च करवीरं च गुडमेतैः समं शृतम् / पलितानीह कृष्णानि कुर्याल्लेपान्महौषधम्

Transliteration

nīlī ca karavīraṃ ca guḍametaiḥ samaṃ śṛtam / palitānīha kṛṣṇāni kuryāllepānmahauṣadham

Translation

నీలీ, కరవీరము, గుడము—ఇవన్నీ సమానంగా కలిపి మరిగించాలి. ఈ మహౌషధ లేపనం వలన తెల్లబడిన కేశాలు నల్లగా మారుతాయని చెప్పబడింది.

Word by Word

• नीली: nīlī (Indigo plant)
• नीली: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• करवीरम्: oleander (karavīra)
• करवीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करवीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गुडम्: jaggery
• गुडम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एतैः: with these
• एतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• समम्: together/equally
• समम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘equally/together’

• शृतम्: boiled/cooked
• शृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु; here √श्रि/श्रु? actually √श्रु/शृ ‘to cook/boil’ = शृ (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय (cooked/boiled)

• पलितानि: grey hairs
• पलितानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इह: here/in this case
• इह: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place/context)

• कृष्णानि: black
• कृष्णानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• लेपात्: from the application/paste
• लेपात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महौषधम्: a great medicine
• महौषधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + औषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महत् औषधम्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Consistent application of properly prepared remedies can reverse visible signs of decline; disciplined care supports well-being.

Vedantic Theme: Acceptance of change tempered by skillful means (upaya) in worldly life; moderation over vanity.

Application: Boil nili (indigo), karavira, and guda together in equal measure; apply as a paste to turn grey hair black.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.176 (hair coloring/anti-grey formulations; boiling and paste application methods)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of herbal lepa (paste) remedies in Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the text also preserves practical formulations—here, a topical lepa—reflecting a dharmic approach where bodily care and traditional medicine are included alongside spiritual instruction.

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

It does not address the afterlife narrative directly; it belongs to a practical medicinal section, indicating the Purana’s wide scope beyond preta-vidhi and Yama’s realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It records a traditional herbal recipe for cosmetic/health use (grey-hair darkening) via a boiled mixture applied as a paste; any real-world use should be approached cautiously due to plant toxicity (e.g., karavira).