Shloka 29

Dhanvantari’s Therapeutics: Jvara to Vraṇa

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

Devanagari script

हरीतकी कणा शुण्ठी मरिचं गुडसंयुतम् / कासघ्नो मोदकः प्रोक्तस्तृष्णारोचकनाशनः

Transliteration

harītakī kaṇā śuṇṭhī maricaṃ guḍasaṃyutam / kāsaghno modakaḥ proktastṛṣṇārocakanāśanaḥ

Translation

ہریڑ، پِپّلی، سونٹھ، کالی مرچ اور گُڑ سے بنا مودک کھانسی کو مٹانے والا کہا گیا ہے؛ یہ زیادہ پیاس اور بے رغبتیِ طعام بھی دور کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• harītakī: harītakī (chebulic myrobalan)
• harītakī: Karta (Subject/ingredient listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harītakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (द्रव्यनाम)

• kaṇā: kaṇā (long pepper)
• kaṇā: Karta (Subject/ingredient listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (द्रव्यनाम; पिप्पली)

• śuṇṭhī: dry ginger
• śuṇṭhī: Karta (Subject/ingredient listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṇṭhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (द्रव्यनाम)

• maricam: black pepper
• maricam: Karta (Subject/ingredient listing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marica (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (द्रव्यनाम)

• guḍa-saṃyutam: mixed with jaggery
• guḍa-saṃyutam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (कृदन्त; √yuj (धातु) क्त, सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘गुडेन संयुतम्’

• kāsa-ghnaḥ: cough-destroying
• kāsa-ghnaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘कासं हन्ति’

• modakaḥ: a bolus/sweet pill (modaka)
• modakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: modaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• proktaḥ: is declared
• proktaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त), प्र-उपसर्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘said/declared’

• tṛṣṇā-rocaka-nāśanaḥ: removing thirst and loss of appetite
• tṛṣṇā-rocaka-nāśanaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛṣṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + rocaka (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘तृष्णायाः रोचकस्य च नाशनः’ (समाहारार्थ)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Simple, well-composed remedies can restore functional harmony, enabling steadiness in practice and duty.

Vedantic Theme: Moderation and right means (yukti) in sustaining the body as an instrument.

Application: Prepare a jaggery-based bolus with harītakī, pippalī, śuṇṭhī, marica; use for cough, thirst, and anorexia as directed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (respiratory and agni-supporting formulations)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the modaka formulation in Garuda Purana?

It records a simple, high-compliance dosage form (a sweet bolus) using warming spices and harītakī, aimed at respiratory relief and improving digestion-related symptoms.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This verse is medical rather than eschatological; indirectly, it aligns with the Purana’s dharmic frame by emphasizing bodily support so one can perform duties and spiritual practices.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a traditional reference, it suggests spice-based supportive care for cough and appetite; people with chronic cough, diabetes (due to jaggery), or other conditions should consult a clinician.