Shloka 4

Domestic Therapeutics for Teeth, Ears, Women’s Kleda, Digestion, Poison-Check, and Eye Disorders

Devanagari script

अर्कपत्रं गृहीत्वा तु मन्दाग्नौ तापयेच्छनैः / निष्पीड्य पूरयेत्कर्णौ कर्णशूलं विनश्यति

Transliteration

arkapatraṃ gṛhītvā tu mandāgnau tāpayecchanaiḥ / niṣpīḍya pūrayetkarṇau karṇaśūlaṃ vinaśyati

Translation

అర్క మొక్క ఆకును తీసుకుని మందమైన అగ్నిపై నెమ్మదిగా వేడిచేయాలి. తరువాత పిండి చెవుల్లో నింపితే కర్ణశూలం (చెవి నొప్పి) నశిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• अर्कपत्रम्: leaf of arka (Calotropis)
• अर्कपत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अर्कस्य पत्रम्)

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); (having taken)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• मन्दाग्नौ: on a mild fire
• मन्दाग्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• तापयेत्: should heat
• तापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (to heat)

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: slowly)

• निष्पीड्य: having squeezed
• निष्पीड्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पीड् (धातु) + निस् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (Absolutive); (having squeezed/pressed out)

• पूरयेत्: should fill
• पूरयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पॄ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कर्णौ: the two ears
• कर्णौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• कर्णशूलम्: ear pain
• कर्णशूलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कर्णस्य शूलम्)

• विनश्यति: is destroyed/ceases
• विनश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Skillful means (upaya) and moderation (mild heat, slow warming) in treatment; care reduces suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Duhkha-nivritti at the bodily level supports inner composure; measured action avoids harm.

Application: Warm arka leaf slowly, express juice, instill carefully; observe contraindications and safety.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.179.3 (radish juice for ear discharge)

Characters & Entities

• Arka (Calotropis)

FAQs

What is the remedy for karṇaśūla (earache) mentioned in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes warming an arka leaf gently, squeezing out its juice, and instilling it into the ears to relieve ear pain.

How does this verse fit the Garuda Purana’s teachings beyond afterlife topics?

Alongside teachings on dharma and post-death rites, the text also preserves practical guidance for bodily well-being, presenting simple therapeutic measures as part of righteous living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights a traditional herbal approach to minor ailments; in modern practice, use caution with plant latex/juices and seek qualified medical advice, especially for infections or severe pain.