Shloka 37

Devanagari script

समस्य पालनं कार्यं विषमे वातनिग्रहः / तीक्ष्णे पित्तप्रतीकारो मन्दे श्लेष्मविशोधनम्

Transliteration

samasya pālanaṃ kāryaṃ viṣame vātanigrahaḥ / tīkṣṇe pittapratīkāro mande śleṣmaviśodhanam

Translation

إذا كان الهضمُ متوازناً فليُحافَظ عليه. وإذا كان غيرَ منتظم فليُكفَّ الواتَه (vāta). وإذا كان حادّاً فليُعالَج البِتَّه (pitta). وإذا كان ضعيفاً فلتُنقَّ الكَفَه (kapha) أي البلغم.

Word by Word

• समस्य: of the balanced (agni/state)
• समस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषण (genitive: of the balanced one/state)

• पालनम्: maintenance, preservation
• पालनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्रियानाम (act-noun)

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive: to be done)

• विषमे: in the irregular (state)
• विषमे: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (locative: in the irregular condition)

• वातनिग्रहः: restraint of vāta
• वातनिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष: वातस्य निग्रहः)

• तीक्ष्णे: in the intense (state)
• तीक्ष्णे: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पित्तप्रतीकारः: remedy against pitta
• पित्तप्रतीकारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतीकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष: पित्तस्य प्रतीकारः)

• मन्दे: in the dull (state)
• मन्दे: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्लेष्मविशोधनम्: cleansing of phlegm (kapha)
• श्लेष्मविशोधनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विशोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष: श्लेष्मणः विशोधनम्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protect what is balanced; when imbalanced, apply doṣa-specific countermeasures (vāta-nigraha, pitta-pratīkāra, śleṣma-viśodhana).

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana requires regulation (niyama); equilibrium supports sattva and steadiness of mind.

Application: If digestion is normal, avoid provocations; if irregular, stabilize vāta (warmth, oiliness, routine); if sharp, cool pitta (cooling diet, moderation); if weak, reduce kapha (lightening, cleansing).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168.36 (types of agni); Garuda Purana 1.168.38-40 (ajīrṇa signs and remedies)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of maintaining sama (balanced) agni in the Garuda Purana?

The verse prioritizes preserving balanced digestion first, implying that stable agni is the foundation for health and should not be disturbed unnecessarily.

How does this verse prescribe responses to different agni states?

It gives targeted correction: control vāta for irregular digestion, pacify pitta for overly intense digestion, and cleanse kapha for sluggish digestion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use a simple rule: protect what’s balanced, and apply doṣa-specific adjustments—regular routine for vāta, cooling moderation for pitta, and lightening/clearing habits for kapha.