Shloka 38

Bhaiṣajya-yogas: Digestive Modakas, Vāta-Śamana Oils, Karṇa-Roga Tailas, Kuṣṭha/Śvitra Applications, Vraṇa-Cikitsā, and Medhya Preparations

Devanagari script

चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे पीतं पलमेकं पयो ऽन्वितम् / वचायास्तत्क्षणं कुर्यान्महाप्रज्ञायुतं नरम्

Transliteration

candrasūryagrahe pītaṃ palamekaṃ payo 'nvitam / vacāyāstatkṣaṇaṃ kuryānmahāprajñāyutaṃ naram

Translation

ในยามจันทรคราสหรือสุริยคราส หากดื่มน้ำนมที่แช่วาจา (vacā) ปริมาณหนึ่งปละ ย่อมบังเกิดมหาปัญญาแก่ผู้นั้นในทันที

Word by Word

• चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे: at (the time of) lunar/solar eclipse
• चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे: Adhikarana (Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: चन्द्रस्य सूर्यस्य वा ग्रहः (ग्रहणकालः)

• पीतम्: drunk/imbibed
• पीतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Singular); पयः प्रति विशेषणम्

• पलम्: a pala (measure)
• पलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) पलम् प्रति

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Singular)

• अन्वितम्: mixed/combined (with)
• अन्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Singular); पयः प्रति विशेषणम्

• वचायाः: of vacā
• वचायाः: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्क्षणम्: immediately/at that moment
• तत्क्षणम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial): 'तस्मिन् क्षणे'

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• महाप्रज्ञायुतम्: endowed with great wisdom
• महाप्रज्ञायुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: महती प्रज्ञा यस्य सः (endowed with great intelligence)

• नरम्: a man/person
• नरम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla-viśeṣa (sacred timing) amplifies the efficacy of a sādhana/auṣadha when performed with rule and measure.

Vedantic Theme: Time and discipline as upādhis that condition results; harnessing auspicious moments to support inner refinement.

Application: At eclipse time, take measured milk infused with vacā (one pala) with purity and restraint; accompany with mantra/japa and calm mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual time-window

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.192.37 (vacā medhā regimen); Garuda Purana 1.192 (grahaṇa-kāla special procedures in adjacent medical/ritual lore)

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Surya

FAQs

What is the importance of eclipse-time practices in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats grahaṇa (eclipse) as a potent time when a small, rule-bound observance—milk with vacā—yields a heightened result, here described as immediate increase of prajñā (intelligence).

How does this verse explain spiritual or subtle effects during an eclipse?

By stating that the benefit arises “tatkṣaṇam” (immediately), the verse implies that time-conditions like an eclipse intensify subtle outcomes of disciplined intake and mantra/auspicious conduct described in the surrounding ritual context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional practice, observe eclipse-time discipline and use only safe, appropriate herbal preparations under guidance; more broadly, the takeaway is to use rare, focused moments for disciplined sāttvika habits that strengthen clarity and discernment.