Shloka 52

Anupāna and the Doṣa-Effects of Foods, Waters, Dairy, Oils, and Preparations

Devanagari script

वातपित्तहरो रूक्षो वातघ्नः कफकृद्गुडः / स पित्तघ्नः परः पथ्यः पुराणो ऽसृक्प्रसादनः

Transliteration

vātapittaharo rūkṣo vātaghnaḥ kaphakṛdguḍaḥ / sa pittaghnaḥ paraḥ pathyaḥ purāṇo 'sṛkprasādanaḥ

Translation

السكر الخام (غوḍا) يزيل فاتا وبيتا، غير أنّ طبيعته مُجفِّفة؛ يسكّن فاتا لكنه يزيد كافا. أمّا الغوḍا المعتّق فهو أخصّ في تسكين بيتا، صالحٌ نافع، ويُنقّي الدم ويصفّيه.

Word by Word

• वातपित्तहरः: remover of vāta and pitta
• वातपित्तहरः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (√हृ धातु, कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—वातपित्तयोः हरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• रूक्षः: dry
• रूक्षः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वातघ्नः: vāta-destroying
• वातघ्नः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (√हन् धातु, कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—वातं घ्नः (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष)

• कफकृत्: kapha-producing
• कफकृत्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (√कृ धातु, कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कफं करोति (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष)

• गुडः: jaggery
• गुडः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सः: it/he (that)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पित्तघ्नः: pitta-destroying
• पित्तघ्नः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (√हन् धातु, कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—पित्तं घ्नः (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष)

• परः: excellent/supreme
• परः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पथ्यः: wholesome/suitable (dietetic)
• पथ्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पुराणः: old/aged
• पुराणः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• असृक्प्रसादनः: blood-purifying/clarifying
• असृक्प्रसादनः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असृक्/अस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसादन (प्रातिपदिक; √सद्/√सद् caus?; ‘प्रसाद’ भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—असृजः प्रसादनः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yukti (discriminative use) in diet: the same substance has differing effects by age/processing; choose what is pathya for one’s condition.

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as sadhana: maintaining the body as an instrument for dharma and bhakti through moderation and discernment.

Application: Prefer purāṇa-guḍa (aged jaggery) when pitta/bleeding tendencies are present; monitor kapha increase; use diet as first-line regulation of doṣa and rakta.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (Ahara/dravya-guna section on sweeteners and fermented items)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

Why does the Garuda Purana distinguish old jaggery (purāṇa guḍa) from fresh jaggery?

This verse states that aged jaggery is considered more wholesome and particularly pitta-pacifying, with a blood-clarifying effect, implying a qualitative change with aging.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey or Yama’s realm; it provides Ayurvedic substance-classification meant to support health and balanced living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If using jaggery, note its kapha-increasing tendency; prefer aged jaggery when aiming to reduce pitta/heat and support blood-related balance, while keeping overall intake moderate.