Shloka 4

Bhāiṣajya-yoga: Lehyas for Kāsa–Śvāsa–Hikkā, Blood-Pacifying Drinks, Udvartana Depilation, and Dental Brightening

Devanagari script

समूलचित्रकं भस्मपिप्पलीचूर्णकं लिहेत् / श्वासं कासञ्च हिक्काञ्च मधुमिश्रं वृषध्वज !

Transliteration

samūlacitrakaṃ bhasmapippalīcūrṇakaṃ lihet / śvāsaṃ kāsañca hikkāñca madhumiśraṃ vṛṣadhvaja !

Translation

اے وِرشَدھوج (شیو)! جڑ سمیت چترک کا سفوف اور راکھ جیسے پِپّلی سفوف کو شہد میں ملا کر لعوق کی طرح چاٹا جائے؛ اس سے سانس کی تنگی، کھانسی اور ہچکی دب جاتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• समूलचित्रकम्: citraka along with its root
• समूलचित्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समूल (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: समूलः चित्रकः (मूलसहितं चित्रकम्)

• भस्मपिप्पलीचूर्णकम्: pippalī powder mixed with ash
• भस्मपिप्पलीचूर्णकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पिप्पली (प्रातिपदिक) + चूर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भस्मनः पिप्पल्याश्च चूर्णकम् (भस्मयुक्तं पिप्पलीचूर्णम्)

• लिहेत्: should lick/consume
• लिहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्वासम्: dyspnea/asthma
• श्वासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (रोग-निवारण-लक्ष्य)

• कासम्: cough
• कासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• हिक्काम्: hiccup
• हिक्काम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिक्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• मधुमिश्रम्: mixed with honey
• मधुमिश्रम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: मधुना मिश्रम्/मधु-मिश्रम्; (औषधस्य) विशेषण

• वृषध्वज: O Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः (शिव)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Healing knowledge can be transmitted in sacred dialogue; disciplined application of strong remedies for urgent conditions.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-anugraha as supportive context while employing proper means (yukti).

Application: Use citraka (with root) and pippali powder mixed with honey as a linctus for shvasa/kasa/hikka, with caution due to heating potency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.181 (formulations for shvasa-kasa-hikka)

Characters & Entities

• Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)

FAQs

What remedy is prescribed in this Garuda Purana verse?

It prescribes licking a honey-mixed powder of citraka (with root) and pippalī (long pepper) ash/powder to relieve breathlessness, cough, and hiccups.

Does this verse relate to afterlife rituals or a medical topic?

This specific verse is medical in nature, presenting a practical herbal preparation rather than describing Yama’s realm or post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights a traditional linctus-style herbal approach for respiratory discomfort; in modern use, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner due to potency and individual contraindications.