Shloka 9

Dhūpa-Lepa-Mantra-Prayoga: Vaśīkaraṇa, Rakṣā, Jvara-nāśa, and Stambhana Applications

Devanagari script

सर्षपाश्च वचा चैव मदनस्य फलानि च / मार्जारविष्ठा धत्तुर स्त्रीकेशेन समन्वितः

Transliteration

sarṣapāśca vacā caiva madanasya phalāni ca / mārjāraviṣṭhā dhattura strīkeśena samanvitaḥ

Translation

رائی کے دانے، وچا اور مدن کے پھل؛ اور بلی کی لید—دھتورا اور عورت کے بالوں کے ساتھ ملا کر—یہی آمیزہ بیان کیا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• सरṣपाः: mustard seeds
• सरṣपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरषप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वचा: sweet flag (Acorus calamus)
• वचा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मदनस्य: of madana (a plant; also name of Kāma)
• मदनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मार्जारविष्ठा: cat feces
• मार्जारविष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative)

• धत्तुरः: datura
• धत्तुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धत्तूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्त्रीकेशेन: with women's hair
• स्त्रीकेशेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative)

• समन्वितः: combined/associated
• समन्वितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अन्वि (धातु) → समन्वित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Use of specific substances in prescribed combinations for protective/ritual-therapeutic aims; efficacy depends on correct ingredients and procedure.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti as an instrument under niyati (ordered causality); worldly remedies operate within saṃsāra.

Application: If treated as traditional practice, follow only under qualified guidance; in modern terms, interpret as historical ethnomedicine/ritual hygiene rather than self-experimentation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.180.10; Garuda Purana 1.180.11; Garuda Purana 1.181.1

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vinata

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual ingredients like mustard and vacā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a technical prescription: it enumerates specific substances used in ritual mixtures intended for protection, purification, or expulsion of harmful influences described in the Preta-kāṇḍa context.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: rather than narrating the soul’s journey, it provides a practical ritual formula that belongs to the broader Garuda Purana framework of managing preta-related disturbances during the post-death period.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder that Garuda Purana includes highly specific ritual-technical sections; in modern practice, such rites should be performed only through qualified tradition-bearers, while householders can focus on ethical living, remembrance, and sanctioned śrāddha practices.