Shloka 12

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मदण्डीं वचां पत्रं मधुना सह पेषयेत् / अङ्गलेपाच्च वनिता नान्यं भर्तारमिच्छति

Transliteration

brahmadaṇḍīṃ vacāṃ patraṃ madhunā saha peṣayet / aṅgalepācca vanitā nānyaṃ bhartāramicchati

Translation

จงบดพรหมทัณฑีและใบวจาเข้ากับน้ำผึ้ง แล้วทาเป็นเครื่องชโลมกาย; ด้วยการชโลมนั้น สตรีจะไม่ปรารถนาสามีอื่นนอกจากสามีของตน

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मदण्डीम्: brahmadaṇḍī (a plant)
• ब्रह्मदण्डीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + दण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः दण्डी)

• वचाम्: vacā (sweet flag)
• वचाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (वचाम् इति वैदिक/आर्ष-रूपम्)

• पत्रम्: leaf
• पत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• मधुना: with honey
• मधुना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; सहार्थक (postposition-like indeclinable)

• पेषयेत्: should grind/pound
• पेषयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पिष् (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त

• अङ्गलेपात्: from smearing on the body
• अङ्गलेपात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग + लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अङ्गस्य लेपः)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• वनिता: a woman
• वनिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध (negation particle)

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भर्तारम्)

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• इच्छति: desires
• इच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Household harmony sought through ritual means; however, forced exclusivity raises dharmic concerns about autonomy.

Vedantic Theme: Attachment (rāga) as bondage; attempts to ‘fix’ desire externally rather than purifying mind.

Application: Prefer relational ethics—trust, care, counseling—over coercive measures; use herbs for health/beauty without manipulative intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.178 (lepa/vaśīkaraṇa dravya-yoga)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of aṅga-lepa (body anointment) in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, aṅga-lepa is presented as a practical household application of herbal substances—an anointment intended to influence affection and marital exclusivity, reflecting the text’s inclusion of pragmatic rites and remedies alongside dharma teachings.

How does this verse relate to the main Garuda Purana teachings on dharma and conduct?

Placed within Achara (conduct) material, it frames personal and domestic life as part of dharmic order, giving a specific herb-based procedure aimed at maintaining harmony within marriage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical-cultural prescription: prioritize marital trust and harmony; if exploring traditional herbs like vacā, do so cautiously and ethically, with informed guidance rather than using it to manipulate consent.