Shloka 7

Upāyas for Cattle and Horses: Bonding, Parasites, Wounds, Swellings, and Mane Itching

Devanagari script

पत्रञ्च शरपुङ्खाया दत्तं सलवणं शिव / वारिस्फोटं हयानाञ्च केसराणां विनाशयेत्

Transliteration

patrañca śarapuṅkhāyā dattaṃ salavaṇaṃ śiva / vārisphoṭaṃ hayānāñca kesarāṇāṃ vināśayet

Translation

โอ้พระศิวะ! เมื่อนำใบศรปุงขาให้พร้อมเกลือ ย่อมทำลายตุ่มพอง/บวมที่มีน้ำ และในม้ายังขจัดโรคที่เกิดแก่แผงคอได้

Word by Word

• पत्रम्: leaf
• पत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शरपुङ्खायाः: of Śarapuṅkhā (plant)
• शरपुङ्खायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरपुङ्खा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दत्तम्: given/applied
• दत्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (given/applied)

• सलवणम्: with salt
• सलवणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण (with salt)

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वारिस्फोटम्: watery eruption/blister
• वारिस्फोटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि + स्फोट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वारिणः स्फोटः)

• हयानाम्: of horses
• हयानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• केसराणाम्: of (their) manes/hairs
• केसराणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विनाशयेत्: should destroy/remove
• विनाशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Healing as a sacred duty; simple substances (leaf + salt) can restore order when properly applied.

Vedantic Theme: Sacralization of practical knowledge; dharma expressed as care for living beings.

Application: Use śarapuṅkhā leaf with salt as a remedy for watery eruptions and equine mane disorders, ensuring correct plant identification and safe topical/oral method as intended by tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.203.8 (related equine mane itching remedy with ghṛtakumārī)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Horses (Haya)
• Sharapunkha (medicinal herb)

FAQs

What is the importance of herbal remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the Garuda Purana also preserves practical dharmic knowledge—simple, traditional formulations (like śarapuṅkhā with salt) used to remove specific ailments.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it reflects the Purana’s broader aim of guiding right living by including pragmatic health guidance alongside spiritual instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights the traditional principle of using specific herbs with simple adjuncts (like salt) for targeted conditions; in practice today, such remedies should be applied with qualified Ayurvedic/veterinary guidance.