Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

शतपुष्पी च जाती च व्योषारग्वधलाङ्गली / सर्पिस्तैलवसामज्जाः स्नेहेषु प्रवरं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

śatapuṣpī ca jātī ca vyoṣāragvadhalāṅgalī / sarpistailavasāmajjāḥ sneheṣu pravaraṃ smṛtam

Translation

ذُكِرَتْ شاتابوشبي و«جاتي»، وكذلك تريكاتو (الثلاثة الحارّة)، وآراغفَدها ولانغَلي؛ وأمّا بين المواد الدهنية المُليِّنة (سْنِهَا) فإن السمن المصفّى (غِهْرِتا)، والزيت، والشحم، ونُخاع العظم تُعَدّ الأرفع منزلةً.

Word by Word

• śatapuṣpī: śatapuṣpī (a medicinal herb, ‘hundred-flowered’)
• śatapuṣpī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatapuṣpī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—षट्पुरुष/तत्पुरुष (शतं पुष्पाणि यस्याः/शत-पुष्पी)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• jātī: jasmine (jātī)
• jātī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jātī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• vyoṣa-argvadha-lāṅgalī: the trio: vyoṣa, aragvadha, and lāṅgalī
• vyoṣa-argvadha-lāṅgalī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + argvadha (प्रातिपदिक) + lāṅgalī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (समाहार/समुच्चय: व्योषः + आरग्वधः + लाङ्गली)

• sarpis-taila-vasā-majjāḥ: ghee, oil, fat, and marrow
• sarpis-taila-vasā-majjāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpis (प्रातिपदिक) + taila (प्रातिपदिक) + vasā (प्रातिपदिक) + majjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूह-शब्द), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (समुच्चय: सर्पिः + तैलम् + वसा + मज्जा)

• sneheṣu: among unctuous substances
• sneheṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन (locative plural)

• pravaram: the best, foremost
• pravaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (sarpis-taila-vasā-majjāḥ इत्यस्य/स्नेहेषु)

• smṛtam: is said/considered
• smṛtam: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः ‘is considered/said’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper selection of substances (dravya) and unctuous media (sneha) as foundational to treatment and bodily steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as sādhanā—care of the body as an instrument for dharma and spiritual practice.

Application: Use appropriate herbs and prioritize ghee/oil/fat/marrow as principal oleating agents according to need and availability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173.26-29 (continuation on ghṛta/taila indications and doṣa-specific use)

FAQs

What is the importance of sneha (unctuous substances) in Garuda Purana?

The verse highlights sneha as a primary category in nourishment and therapy, naming ghee and related unctuous substances as principal supports in dietetic and medicinal contexts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe afterlife travel; it focuses on maintaining the body through recognized foods and medicinal categories, which supports disciplined, dharmic living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ghee/oil as key dietary ‘sneha’ when appropriate, and understand that strong herbs (like trikaṭu or purgatives) should be used cautiously and ideally with expert guidance.