Shloka 5

Mantra-Pūta Auṣadhi-Prayoga: Roots, Amulets, and Protections from Disease and Graha/Bhūta Affliction

Devanagari script

हस्तबद्धं पलाशस्य अपामार्गस्य वा हर / मूलं सर्वज्वरहरं भूतप्रेतादिनुद्भवेत्

Transliteration

hastabaddhaṃ palāśasya apāmārgasya vā hara / mūlaṃ sarvajvaraharaṃ bhūtapretādinudbhavet

Translation

จงผูกรากปาลาศะหรือรากอปามารคะไว้ที่มือ; ย่อมขจัดไข้ทั้งปวง และปัดเป่าภัยที่เกิดจากภูต เปรต และสิ่งคล้ายกัน

Word by Word

• हस्तबद्धम्: tied to the hand
• हस्तबद्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (बन्ध् धातु, क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (हस्ते बद्धम्)

• पलाशस्य: of palāśa (tree)
• पलाशस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• अपामार्गस्य: of apāmārga (plant)
• अपामार्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपामार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• हर: take/bring
• हर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मूलम्: root
• मूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• सर्वज्वरहरम्: removing all fevers
• सर्वज्वरहरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (हृ धातु, णिनि/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वान् ज्वरान् हरति इति)

• भूतप्रेतादि: (from) spirits, ghosts, etc.
• भूतप्रेतादि: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्वन्द्वः (भूतप्रेतौ आदि च); (अत्र) प्रातिपदिकरूपेण उपपद

• नुद्भवेत्: would drive away/ward off
• नुद्भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नुद् (धातु) + भू (धातु)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्/सम्भावना), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; सन्धिः: नुद् + भवेत् → नुद्भवेत्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Apotropaic and medicinal karma: binding a sanctified root as a protective act is believed to avert fever and spirit-caused troubles.

Vedantic Theme: Interplay of adhibhautika (physical) and adhidaivika (unseen) causation within worldly life; reliance on prescribed acts for relief.

Application: If used culturally: prefer evidence-based fever care; interpret ‘bhūta-preta’ as anxiety/psychosomatic distress; use harmless symbolic protection alongside medical treatment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household/forest-edge where roots are gathered

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.189 (herbal protections and cures)

Characters & Entities

• Bhutas
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of palāśa and apāmārga roots in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as protective and therapeutic ritual substances—worn tied to the hand—to counter fevers and disturbances attributed to bhūtas and pretas.

How does this verse relate to preta or bhūta afflictions in Garuda Purana teachings?

It reflects the text’s practical ritual layer: certain illnesses are described as arising from subtle/entity-related disturbances, for which apotropaic measures (like wearing specific roots) are prescribed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a traditional remedy, it emphasizes combining bodily care with spiritual protection; in practice, one may follow such customs respectfully while also seeking appropriate medical care for fever.