Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

कटिबद्धं निम्बमूलमक्षिसूलहरं भवेत् / शणमूलं सताम्बूलं दग्धमिन्द्रियकस्य (ल्प) हृत्

Transliteration

kaṭibaddhaṃ nimbamūlamakṣisūlaharaṃ bhavet / śaṇamūlaṃ satāmbūlaṃ dagdhamindriyakasya (lpa) hṛt

Translation

ผูกรากสะเดาที่เอว เชื่อว่าช่วยบรรเทาอาการปวดตาได้ และรากศณะเมื่อเผาแล้วรับประทานร่วมกับตัมบูลอันดี ย่อมระงับความผิดปกติแห่งอินทรีย์ (และบรรเทาอาการที่หัวใจเล็กน้อย) ได้।

Word by Word

• कटिबद्धम्: tied at the waist
• कटिबद्धम्: Kriya-viseshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √बन्ध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कटौ बद्धम्’ (waist-bound)

• निम्बमूलम्: neem root
• निम्बमूलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘निम्बस्य मूलम्’

• अक्षिसूलहरम्: removing eye-pain
• अक्षिसूलहरम्: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अक्षिशूलं हरति’ (pain-removing)

• भवेत्: would be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शणमूलम्: hemp/flax root
• शणमूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शणस्य मूलम्’

• सताम्बूलम्: good betel (leaf)
• सताम्बूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सत् ताम्बूलम्’ (good betel)

• दग्धम्: burnt
• दग्धम्: Kriya-viseshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √दह्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘burnt’

• इन्द्रियकस्य: of Indriyaka (a being/person)
• इन्द्रियकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रियक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हृत्: heart
• हृत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (हृद्/हृत्), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘heart’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa, within a remedies section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preventive and protective care of the senses through readily available remedies.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-samyama begins with indriya-raksha (guarding the senses); bodily order supports mental clarity.

Application: Tie neem root at the waist for eye-pain (traditional apotropaic/therapeutic use); use burnt shana-root with quality tambula as a supportive remedy for sensory disorders (with caution).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.177 (ausadha/roganivarana measures)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa
• Nimba (Neem)
• Tāmbūla

FAQs

What is the importance of neem (nimba) in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, neem root is presented as a protective/remedial measure—when tied at the waist it is said to relieve eye pain—showing the text’s use of simple herbal and ritual-style remedies.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This verse does not describe the after-death journey; it belongs to the Ācāra/health-remedy material, emphasizing bodily well-being and practical cures rather than preta-yātrā or Yama’s realm.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It can be read as a record of traditional ethnomedicine: neem and other herbs were used in simple formulations; in modern practice, treat it as historical guidance and consult qualified medical professionals before applying herbal remedies.