Shloka 13

Treatment of Nāḍī-vraṇa, Bhagandara, Upadaṃśa, Fractures, Kuṣṭha/Śvitra, Āmlapitta, ENT–Eye Disorders, and Bleeding Conditions

Devanagari script

सर्वकुष्ठेषु वमनं रेचनं रक्तमोक्षण / वचावासापटोलानां निम्बस्य कलिनीत्वचः

Transliteration

sarvakuṣṭheṣu vamanaṃ recanaṃ raktamokṣaṇa / vacāvāsāpaṭolānāṃ nimbasya kalinītvacaḥ

Translation

凡诸库湿陀（kuṣṭha，皮肤疾患）之类，宜行催吐、泻下与放血（raktamokṣaṇa）；并当用菖蒲（vacā）、瓦萨（vāsā）、葫芦叶（paṭola）、楝树（neem）及迦利尼（kalinī）之皮/树皮等为药。

Word by Word

• सर्व-कुष्ठेषु: in all (types of) leprosy/skin diseases
• सर्व-कुष्ठेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘सर्वेषु कुष्ठेषु’ = in all skin-diseases)

• वमनम्: emesis (therapeutic vomiting)
• वमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वम् (धातु) → वमन (प्रातिपदिक/भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रेचनम्: purgation
• रेचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिच् (धातु) → रेचन (प्रातिपदिक/भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रक्त-मोक्षणम्: bloodletting
• रक्त-मोक्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘रक्तस्य मोक्षणम्’ = bloodletting)

• वचा-वासापटोलानाम्: of vacā, vāsā, and paṭola
• वचा-वासापटोलानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचा (प्रातिपदिक) + वासा (प्रातिपदिक) + पटोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-मिश्र, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (‘of vacā, vāsā, and paṭola’)

• निम्बस्य: of neem
• निम्बस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कलिनी-त्वचः: of kalinī bark/skin
• कलिनी-त्वचः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + त्वच्/त्वचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘कलिन्याः त्वचः’ = of the bark/skin of kalinī)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Removal of underlying causes through decisive action; purification precedes restoration.

Vedantic Theme: Mala-śodhana as metaphor for inner cleansing; disciplined intervention to restore balance.

Application: Undertake cleansing therapies only with qualified supervision; combine procedural therapies with indicated herbs and aftercare.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.171: kuṣṭha-cikitsā with vamana, recana, raktamokṣaṇa and specific dravyas

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of purification therapies in Garuda Purana’s medical section?

The verse frames kuṣṭha treatment around śodhana (cleansing)—emesis, purgation, and bloodletting—showing a classical Ayurvedic approach to systemic detoxification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not; it focuses on bodily therapy. In the Garuda Purana, such teachings coexist with afterlife doctrine, reflecting a holistic view of life, duty, and wellbeing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It suggests that chronic skin disorders were traditionally approached with supervised cleansing and bitter/cooling herbs like neem; modern readers should seek professional medical guidance.