Shloka 21

Preparations of Medicated Ghee and Oils (Ghṛta–Taila Yoga); Brāhmī-ghṛta and Nārāyaṇa Taila

Devanagari script

अजमोदं ससिन्दूरं हरितालं निशाद्वयम् / क्षारद्वयं फेनयुतमार्द्रक सर (शवः लोद्भवम्

Transliteration

ajamodaṃ sasindūraṃ haritālaṃ niśādvayam / kṣāradvayaṃ phenayutamārdraka sara (śavaḥ lodbhavam

Translation

Lấy ajmoda (ajwain/ngò tây), cùng sindūra (hồng đơn), haritāla (hoàng thạch), hai vị thuốc gọi là niśā, hai loại muối kiềm (kṣāra), chất tạo bọt, và tinh chất gừng tươi—lại thêm thành phần được ghi là “śava-lodbhava”—để hợp thành phương dược này.

Word by Word

• अजमोदम्: ajamoda (ajmoda)
• अजमोदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजमोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (औषधिनाम), द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• ससिन्दूरम्: with red lead (sindūra)
• ससिन्दूरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + सिन्दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — ‘with sindūra’; विशेषणम्

• हरितालम्: haritāla (orpiment)
• हरितालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — orpiment

• निशाद्वयम्: the two niśā-s (two turmerics)
• निशाद्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — dvigu ‘two niśā-s’ (two kinds of turmeric)

• क्षारद्वयम्: two alkalis
• क्षारद्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षार + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — dvigu ‘two alkalis’

• फेनयुतम्: mixed with foam
• फेनयुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फेन + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — ‘endowed with foam’; विशेषणम्

• आर्द्रकम्: fresh ginger
• आर्द्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्द्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — fresh ginger

• सर: (unclear; possibly essence)
• सर: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: (अस्पष्ट) सम्भाव्यः: सार (प्रातिपदिक) / सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अस्पष्ट-पाठः; रूपनिर्णयः अनिश्चितः — unclear; possibly ‘सारम्’ (essence) intended

• शवः: corpse (reading doubtful)
• शवः: (Unclear)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — ‘corpse’; परन्तु अत्र पाठः अत्यन्त-संदिग्धः (औषधिसूची-प्रसङ्गे)

• लोद्भवम्: produced from (unclear source)
• लोद्भवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ल + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘arising from/produced from’; परन्तु पूर्वपद ‘ल’ अस्पष्ट (सम्भाव्यः ‘लोद्र-उद्भवम्’?)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Precision and restraint in potent formulations, especially with mineral/alkaline substances; knowledge must be paired with care.

Vedantic Theme: Ahimsā through competence—reducing harm by right knowledge and measured action.

Application: Handle and dose strong ingredients (kṣāra, haritāla, sindūra, etc.) carefully; ensure proper processing and qualified supervision.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.174 (continuing pharmacopeia; strong formulations alongside oils)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing ingredients like ajamoda and haritāla in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a technical recipe-list: it preserves a traditional formulation by naming precise substances used in a classical remedy context.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address afterlife doctrine here; this section shifts to practical remedial formulations, presented within the Vishnu–Garuda instructional frame.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as historical textual evidence of traditional formulations; do not self-administer mineral/arsenic-containing substances without qualified medical supervision.