Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16

Therapeutic Formulations for Glandular Swelling, Skin Diseases, Heat-Afflictions, Bleeding Disorders, Respiratory Complaints, and Vomiting

Devanagari script

माहिषं नवनीतञ्च सिन्दूरं समरीचकम् / पामा विलेपनान्नश्येद्दुर् नामा वृषभध्वज

Transliteration

māhiṣaṃ navanītañca sindūraṃ samarīcakam / pāmā vilepanānnaśyeddur nāmā vṛṣabhadhvaja

Translation

Hỡi Đấng mang cờ bò (Vṛṣabhadhvaja, Śiva), bệnh ghẻ ngứa (pāmā) được chữa khỏi nhờ bôi hồ làm từ chế phẩm sữa trâu, bơ tươi, chu sa đỏ (sindūra) và tiêu đen; ngay cả chứng bệnh da đáng sợ cũng bị tiêu trừ bởi sự xức bôi ấy.

Word by Word

• माहिषम्: buffalo-(derived)
• माहिषम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन; (नवनीतस्य) विशेषणम्

• नवनीतम्: butter
• नवनीतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवनीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन

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

• सिन्दूरम्: vermilion
• सिन्दूरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन

• स-मरीचकम्: together with pepper
• स-मरीचकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + मरीचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः = 'with pepper'

• पामा: scabies; itch
• पामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• विलेपनात्: from the application (of the paste)
• विलेपनात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (cause)

• नश्येत्: would perish; be cured
• नश्येत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• दुः-नामा: a disease called 'duḥnāmā' (a severe skin disease)
• दुः-नामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुः (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; रोगनाम

• वृषभध्वज: O bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः = 'he whose banner is a bull' (Śiva)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, invoking Śiva as vṛṣabhadhvaja)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appropriate external therapies (abhyanga/lepa) can remove afflictions; invoke divine witness while applying practical means.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-anugraha alongside puruṣakāra (human effort) in worldly well-being.

Application: Prepare a topical paste with buffalo-milk product, fresh butter, sindūra, and black pepper; apply for pāmā-type itching/scabies (noting sindūra composition and safety).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.190.13 & 1.190.15 (lepa therapies for skin disease)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of vilepana (anointment) in Garuda Purana remedies?

This verse treats vilepana as a practical therapeutic act: a specific paste is prescribed, and the healing effect is attributed to correct ingredients and proper application.

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

Within the Achara Kanda’s guidance on conduct and applied religious life, it includes pragmatic household remedies; here, bodily well-being is supported through a traditional formulation while invoking a divine epithet (vṛṣabhadhvaja).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a historical reference to traditional topical formulations and the principle of disciplined, ingredient-specific practice; for real medical conditions, consult qualified healthcare professionals before applying irritants like pepper.