Shloka 7

Vashikarana–Stambhana Prayogas and Garbha-Sambhava Yogas

Devanagari script

श्वेताप राजितामूलं पिष्टं रोचनया युतम् / यं पश्येत्तिलकेनैव वशी कर्यान्नृपालये

Transliteration

śvetāpa rājitāmūlaṃ piṣṭaṃ rocanayā yutam / yaṃ paśyettilakenaiva vaśī karyānnṛpālaye

Translation

Rễ śvetāpa-rājitā được giã thành hồ, trộn với rocanā; khi chấm làm tilaka trên trán, thì bất cứ ai ta nhìn bằng dấu tilaka ấy đều được nói là sẽ trở nên phục tùng, ngay cả giữa triều đình.

Word by Word

• श्वेतापा: śvetāpā (a plant)
• श्वेतापा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेतापा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वनस्पति-नाम)

• राजितामूलम्: root of rājitā (plant)
• राजितामूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजिता + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (राजितायाः मूलम्)

• पिष्टम्: ground, made into paste
• पिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिष् (धातु) → पिष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मूलम्)

• रोचनया: with rocanā (yellow pigment)
• रोचनया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोचना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• युतम्: mixed/combined
• युतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पिष्टम्/मूलम्)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पश्येत्: should see
• पश्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तिलकेन: with a tilaka mark
• तिलकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• वशी: subjugated
• वशी: Kartṛ-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (सः implied)

• कार्यः: to be made (so)
• कार्यः: Kartṛ-predicative (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भविष्यत्कृदन्त/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘करनीयः’

• नृपालये: in the king's palace
• नृपालये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपालय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृपस्य आलयः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within an instructional section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power gained through manipulation is ethically perilous; sacred markers (tilaka) should align with purity and devotion, not coercion.

Vedantic Theme: External marks without sattva are hollow; adharma masquerading as dharma deepens avidyā.

Application: Use symbols of faith for inner discipline and humility; avoid exploiting charisma/appearance to dominate others.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: royal-court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.178 (tilaka-based vaśīkaraṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Nṛpa (king)

FAQs

What is the importance of tilaka and rocanā in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse presents tilaka as a ritual-applied medium for efficacy; mixed with rocanā and a specific root paste, it is described as producing a vaśīkaraṇa (subduing) effect in social situations like a royal court.

How does this verse fit the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Alongside teachings on dharma and post-death rites, the text also preserves traditional prayoga-style instructions—herbal/ritual measures intended for protection or influence—framed as procedural knowledge conveyed in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Ethically, it can be read as a reminder that ritual symbols (like tilaka) were historically linked with intent and discipline; in modern practice, prioritize harmless devotional tilaka and avoid coercive uses that conflict with dharma.