Shloka 17

Rasa-Dravya Varga: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter, Astringent; Snehana and Svedana Guidelines

Devanagari script

तिक्तो रसश्छेदनः स्याद्रोचनी दीपनस्तथा / शोधनो ज्वरतृष्णाघ्नो मूर्छाकण्ठार्तिकादिजित्

Transliteration

tikto rasaśchedanaḥ syādrocanī dīpanastathā / śodhano jvaratṛṣṇāghno mūrchākaṇṭhārtikādijit

Translation

طعمُه مُرّ؛ ويُقال إنّه «يقطع» التراكمات السادة، ويُحسّن الشهية ويُوقِد نار الهضم؛ وهو مُطهِّر، يذهب بالحمّى والعطش، ويغلب الإغماء وألم الحلق وما شابهه من العلل.

Word by Word

• तिक्तः: bitter
• तिक्तः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रसः: taste
• रसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• छेदनः: cutting; breaking (obstructions)
• छेदनः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छेदन (प्रातिपदिक; √छिद् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावक/कर्तरि-प्रयोगे विशेषण (cutting/piercing)

• स्यात्: would be; is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• रोचनी: appetizing; pleasing
• रोचनी: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोचनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दीपनः: digestive-stimulating
• दीपनः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपन (प्रातिपदिक; √दीप् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (kindling digestive fire)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• शोधनः: purifying
• शोधनः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोधन (प्रातिपदिक; √शुध् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (purifying)

• ज्वरतृष्णाघ्नः: destroying fever and thirst
• ज्वरतृष्णाघ्नः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वर + तृष्णा + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक; √हन् (धातु) + क्विप्/घ्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ज्वरं तृष्णां च हन्ति इति)

• मूर्छाकण्ठार्तिकादिजित्: overcoming fainting, throat pain, etc.
• मूर्छाकण्ठार्तिकादिजित्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्छा + कण्ठार्तिका + आदि + जित् (प्रातिपदिक; √जि (धातु) + क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मूर्छां कण्ठार्तिकां च आदीन् जयति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Understanding rasa (taste) and karma (action) of a substance enables right therapeutic action.

Vedantic Theme: Right knowledge guides right action in the empirical realm (vyavahāra) while supporting sattva and clarity.

Application: Use bitter, scraping, digestive-kindling remedies for appropriate conditions (e.g., āma, fever, thirst) with proper dosing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173 (guṇa-kathana: tiktarasa, chedana/lekhana-like action, dīpana, śodhana)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of tikta rasa (bitter taste) in Garuda Purana’s healing context?

The verse summarizes classical actions of bitterness—cleansing, reducing obstructions, and supporting appetite and digestion—showing a rasa-based therapeutic logic.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s post-death path; it focuses on medicinal qualities and disease-relieving actions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a general principle, bitter and cleansing measures are traditionally associated with reducing fever/thirst and improving digestion, but specific treatment should be individualized by competent medical advice.