Shloka 8

Upāyas for Cattle and Horses: Bonding, Parasites, Wounds, Swellings, and Mane Itching

Devanagari script

घृतकुमारीपत्रमेव दत्तं सलक्षणं हर / तुरगम-केसराणां कण्डूनंश्येन्न संशयः

Transliteration

ghṛtakumārīpatrameva dattaṃ salakṣaṇaṃ hara / turagama-kesarāṇāṃ kaṇḍūnaṃśyenna saṃśayaḥ

Translation

హే హరా! సరిగా గుర్తించిన ఘృతకుమారీ (కలబంద) ఆకు ఇస్తే, అది గుర్రం కేశర (మానే) లోని కురుపును నిస్సందేహంగా శమింపజేస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• घृतकुमारीपत्रम्: leaf of ghṛtakumārī (aloe)
• घृतकुमारीपत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृतकुमारी + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (घृतकुमार्याः पत्रम्)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• दत्तम्: given/applied
• दत्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सलक्षणम्: with characteristic signs
• सलक्षणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण (with marks/with symptoms)

• हर: O Hara
• हर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तुरगमकेसराणाम्: of the horse's mane-hairs
• तुरगमकेसराणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरगम + केसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तुरगमस्य केसराणि)

• कण्डूनम्: itchings
• कण्डूनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्डू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (पाठानुसारं: कण्डूनाम् इत्यर्थे)

• श्येत्: should subside/be removed
• श्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्या/श्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (पाठदोषसम्भावना: शमयेत्/नश्येत् इत्यर्थे)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right identification and right use of remedies (yathā-lakṣaṇa) leads to effective healing.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa/precision in applied knowledge; dharma as careful, non-negligent action.

Application: Use correctly identified aloe (ghṛtakumārī) leaf as directed to relieve mane itching; emphasize proper identification and method of administration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.203.7 (śarapuṅkhā + salt for eruptions/mane disorders); Garuda Purana 1.204.1 (shift to herb nomenclature)

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of ghṛtakumārī (aloe) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights ghṛtakumārī as a reliable, properly identified herbal remedy, showing that the text also preserves practical medicinal knowledge alongside spiritual instruction.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like dharma or ritual life?

By emphasizing a ‘properly identified’ substance (sa-lakṣaṇa), the verse reflects the broader Purāṇic concern for correctness in practice—whether in remedies, vows, or rituals.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use aloe responsibly for soothing irritation, and follow the principle of correct identification and proper method before applying any traditional remedy.