Shloka 14

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

Fever, GI Disorders, Bleeding, Respiratory, Urinary, Swelling, and Wound Care

Devanagari script

बलाश्वदंष्ट्राबिल्वादि पाठानागरधान्यकम् / एतदाहारसंयोगे हितं सर्वातिसारिणाम्

Transliteration

balāśvadaṃṣṭrābilvādi pāṭhānāgaradhānyakam / etadāhārasaṃyoge hitaṃ sarvātisāriṇām

Translation

بَلا، اَشوَدَنشٹرا، بِلو وغیرہ—اور ساتھ پاتھا، سونٹھ اور دھنیا—ان کا غذا میں مناسب امتزاج ہر قسم کے اتیسار کے مریضوں کے لیے مفید ہے۔

Word by Word

• बला: balā (Sida cordifolia)
• बला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (ingredient-name used in compound)

• अश्व-दंष्ट्रा: aśvadaṃṣṭrā (Gokṣura/related herb-name)
• अश्व-दंष्ट्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अश्वस्य दंष्ट्रा इव) (औषधिद्रव्यनाम)

• बिल्व-आदि: bilva and the like
• बिल्व-आदि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (बिल्वं आदिः यस्मात्—'bilva etc.')

• पाठ: pāṭhā (Cissampelos pareira)
• पाठ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (ingredient-name used in compound)

• नागर: dry ginger
• नागर: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (ingredient-name used in compound)

• धान्यकम्: coriander
• धान्यकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आहार-संयोगे: in combination with diet/food
• आहार-संयोगे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आहारस्य संयोगः)

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (धा धातु/√धा 'to place' + क्त; 'placed/beneficial')
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• सर्व-अतीसारिणाम्: of all diarrhoea-patients
• सर्व-अतीसारिणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अतीसारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां अतीसारिणां)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right food-combination (āhāra-saṃyoga) is central to health; disciplined diet is a form of self-governance.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva through regulated intake; mastery of senses (indriya-nigraha) supports clarity.

Application: Combine balā, aśvadanṣṭrā, bilva (and related), pāṭhā, dry ginger, and dhānyaka appropriately in diet for atisāra sufferers, tailored to strength and stage of disease.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (diet and decoction measures for atisāra)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of bilva and related herbs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights bilva-centered dietary combinations as a classical, practical measure for controlling atisāra, reflecting the text’s medicinal tradition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not narrate the soul’s journey; instead, it teaches health-supporting conduct (pathya āhāra) that sustains one’s dharma in embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It suggests using specific digestive-support herbs as part of diet; for acute diarrhoea, dehydration risk is serious—seek medical care while using traditional measures responsibly.