Shloka 21
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
धन्वन्तरिश्च भगवान् स्वयमेव कीर्ति- र्नाम्ना नृणां पुरुरुजां रुज आशु हन्ति । यज्ञे च भागममृतायुरवावरुन्ध आयुष्यवेदमनुशास्त्यवतीर्य लोके ॥ २१ ॥
dhanvantariś ca bhagavān svayam eva kīrtir nāmnā nṛṇāṁ puru-rujāṁ ruja āśu hanti yajñe ca bhāgam amṛtāyur-avāvarundha āyuṣya-vedam anuśāsty avatīrya loke
ในอวตารเป็นธันวันตริ พระผู้เป็นเจ้าทรงขจัดโรคของสรรพชีวิตผู้เจ็บป่วยอยู่เสมอได้อย่างรวดเร็วเพียงด้วยพระเกียรติของพระองค์; และเพราะพระองค์เท่านั้น เทวดาจึงได้อายุยืน พระองค์ทรงรับส่วนในยัญญะ และเสด็จลงสู่โลกเพื่อสถาปนาและสอนอายุรเวท ศาสตร์การแพทย์
As stated in the beginning of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, everything emanates from the ultimate source of the Personality of Godhead; it is therefore understood in this verse that medical science or knowledge in medicine was also inaugurated by the Personality of Godhead in His incarnation Dhanvantari, and thus the knowledge is recorded in the Vedas. The Vedas are the source of all knowledge, and thus knowledge in medical science is also there for the perfect cure of the diseases of the living entity. The embodied living entity is diseased by the very construction of his body. The body is the symbol of diseases. The disease may differ from one variety to another, but disease must be there just as there is birth and death for everyone. So, by the grace of the Personality of Godhead, not only are diseases of the body and mind cured, but also the soul is relieved of the constant repetition of birth and death. The name of the Lord is also called bhavauṣadhi, or the source of curing the disease of material existence.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord descended as Dhanvantari and instructed the science of longevity—Āyurveda—while also removing diseases and granting long life as Amṛtāyu.
In Canto 2 Chapter 7, Śukadeva is listing the Lord’s incarnations and their specific functions; Dhanvantari is mentioned to show how the Lord protects beings through healing, longevity, and dharmic order in sacrifice.
Honor the body as a vehicle for bhakti by living with discipline, seeking genuine healing, and aligning health practices with dharma—remembering that ultimate protection and well-being come from the Lord.