Shloka 18

Netra–Nāsa–Mukha Cikitsā, Vraṇa/Bhasma Prayoga, Jvara–Vāta Remedies, and Protective/Uccāṭana Procedures

Devanagari script

गुञ्जामूलं छागमूत्रे घृष्टं तिमिरनुच्च तत् रौप्यताम्रसुवर्णानां हस्तघृष्टशलाकया

Transliteration

guñjāmūlaṃ chāgamūtre ghṛṣṭaṃ timiranucca tat raupyatāmrasuvarṇānāṃ hastaghṛṣṭaśalākayā

Translation

รากกุญชาเมื่อนำมาบดกับปัสสาวะแพะ กล่าวกันว่าย่อมขจัด “ติมิระ” คือความมืดคล้ายต้อในดวงตา; ให้ทาด้วยแท่งเล็ก (ศลาคา) ที่ถูด้วยมือ ทำด้วยเงิน ทองแดง หรือทองคำ

Word by Word

• गुञ्जामूलम्: root of guñjā (Abrus precatorius)
• गुञ्जामूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुञ्जा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• छागमूत्रे: in goat's urine
• छागमूत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाग (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Loc., Singular)

• घृष्टम्: ground, rubbed
• घृष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (PPP; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• तिमिरनुत्: dispeller of timira (cataract/dimness)
• तिमिरनुत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिमिर (प्रातिपदिक) + नुत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √नुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular); बहुव्रीहिवत्-विशेषणार्थे 'तिमिरं नुदति' (one that dispels cataract/darkness)

• उच्च: excellent, potent
• उच्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• तत्: that (preparation)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• रौप्यताम्रसुवर्णानाम्: of silver, copper, and gold
• रौप्यताम्रसुवर्णानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Gen., Pl.)

• हस्तघृष्टशलाकया: with a hand-rubbed applicator/rod
• हस्तघृष्टशलाकया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + घृष्ट (कृदन्त; √घृष्) + शलाका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Instr., Singular); 'हस्तेन घृष्टा शलाका' (a rod rubbed by hand)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Skillful means (upāya) and careful instruments in alleviating suffering; disciplined technique matters.

Vedantic Theme: Duhkha-nivṛtti through right action; pramāda (carelessness) is to be avoided in bodily instruments.

Application: Grind guñjā root in goat’s urine; apply to the eye using a hand-rubbed śalākā (probe/rod) made of silver, copper, or gold for timira-like opacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177 (ocular therapies; añjana/śalākā usage in contiguous verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this Garuda Purana verse on timira (cataract/eye darkness)?

It preserves a traditional therapeutic formula, stating that guñjā-root triturated in goat’s urine and applied with a śalākā is intended to dispel timira—an Ayurvedic category of vision-obscuring disorders.

How does this verse explain the method of application (śalākā) for the remedy?

It specifies a hand-rubbed small applicator/rod (śalākā), and notes acceptable materials—silver, copper, or gold—indicating a precise procedural instruction rather than a purely symbolic statement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as historical/philological guidance on traditional medical culture in the Garuda Purana; for real eye conditions, seek qualified medical care, since guñjā is toxic and such preparations should not be self-administered.