Shloka 5

Auṣadha-Yoga: Medicinal Powders, External Therapies, Fumigation, and Vishnu as Supreme Remedy

Devanagari script

अपस्मारविषोन्मादशोषालक्ष्मीज्वरापहम् / भूतेभ्यश्चभयं हन्ति राजद्वारेषु योजनात्

Transliteration

apasmāraviṣonmādaśoṣālakṣmījvarāpaham / bhūtebhyaścabhayaṃ hanti rājadvāreṣu yojanāt

Translation

此法能除癫痫（apasmāra）、解毒害、息狂乱、治消耗、祛不祥与热病；又若施用于王门之处，亦能灭除由诸bhūta（鬼灵）所起之恐惧。

Word by Word

• अपस्मार-विष-उन्माद-शोष-अलक्ष्मी-ज्वर-अपहम्: removing epilepsy, poison, madness, wasting, misfortune, and fever
• अपस्मार-विष-उन्माद-शोष-अलक्ष्मी-ज्वर-अपहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपस्मार (प्रातिपदिक) + विष (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्माद (प्रातिपदिक) + शोष (प्रातिपदिक) + अलक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अपह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (समाहारार्थे) — ‘अपस्मारादीन् अपहन्ति’ इति

• भूतेभ्यः: from spirits/beings
• भूतेभ्यः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), पञ्चमी (5), बहुवचन

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

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• हन्ति: destroys/removes
• हन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• राज-द्वारेषु: at the king’s gates/courts
• राज-द्वारेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; राजद्वार (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• योजनात्: by application/placing (there)
• योजनात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक; √युज्-धातुजन्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protection of community and self through sanctioned remedies and apotropaic measures at liminal spaces.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta/dharma) expressed as safeguarding life and mind; fear and affliction are mitigated through right means.

Application: Use the prepared formulation as a therapeutic and protective application; place/apply it at entrances (royal gates) to reduce bhūta-related fear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/gateway

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.193 (continuation of remedy descriptions and claimed effects; protective uses)

Characters & Entities

• Bhūtas

FAQs

What is the importance of protective remedies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights dhārmic protection as both physical and subtle—addressing disease, misfortune, and fear from bhūtas through a prescribed sacred application.

How does this verse relate to fear of spirits (bhūtas)?

It explicitly states that fear caused by bhūtas is destroyed, indicating the Purana’s view that some disturbances are subtle/psychic and can be countered by sanctioned ritual protection.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to combine ethical living and disciplined spiritual practice with traditional protective rites when facing fear, instability, or recurring inauspiciousness.