Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

तथा धीस्मृतिमेधाग्निकाङ्क्षिणां शस्यते घृतम् / केवलं पैत्तिके सर्पिर्वातिके लवणान्वितम्

Transliteration

tathā dhīsmṛtimedhāgnikāṅkṣiṇāṃ śasyate ghṛtam / kevalaṃ paittike sarpirvātike lavaṇānvitam

Translation

وكذلك لمن يبتغي الذكاء (dhī) والذاكرة (smṛti) والفطنة (medhā) ونار الهضم (agni) يُستحسن السمن المصفّى (ghṛta). وفي أحوال «بيتا» يُعطى السمن وحده، وفي أحوال «فاتا» يُؤخذ السمن مع الملح.

Word by Word

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb ‘thus/likewise’)

• dhī-smṛti-medhā-agni-kāṅkṣiṇām: of those desiring intellect, memory, comprehension, and digestive fire
• dhī-smṛti-medhā-agni-kāṅkṣiṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhī (प्रातिपदिक) + smṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + medhā (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (धीयः स्मृतेः मेधायाः अग्नेः च काङ्क्षिणः = ‘desirous of intellect, memory, understanding, digestive fire’)

• śasyate: is recommended/praised
• śasyate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• ghṛtam: ghee
• ghṛtam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्तृस्थानी (कर्मणि-क्रियायाः विषयः)

• kevalam: only
• kevalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम् (adverbial accusative: ‘only/merely’)

• paittike: in pitta-type (disorder/condition)
• paittike: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paittika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘पैत्तिके (रोगे/दोषे)’ इति लुप्त-शब्दान्वयः

• sarpis: ghee (sarpis)
• sarpis: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; (घृतस्य पर्यायः)

• vātike: in vāta-type (disorder/condition)
• vātike: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vātika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘वातिके (रोगे/दोषे)’ इति लुप्त-शब्दान्वयः

• lavaṇa-anvitam: mixed with salt
• lavaṇa-anvitam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lavaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक; √i + ni + kta)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (क्त), समासः—तत्पुरुष (लवणेन अन्वितम् = ‘accompanied with salt’); sarpis इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right means (upāya) for strengthening intellect and digestion through doṣa-appropriate use of ghṛta.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi supports jñāna and smṛti; bodily balance aids inner clarity.

Application: For cognition and agni: use ghee; in pitta conditions: plain ghee; in vāta conditions: ghee with salt (as directed by a practitioner).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173.27 (kapha modification with trikaṭu/alkali); Garuda Purana 1.173.28 (taila indications)

FAQs

What is the importance of ghee (ghṛta/sarpiḥ) in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents ghee as a premier support for cognition (dhī, smṛti, medhā) and digestive strength (agni), and specifies its doṣa-wise use.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not discuss the soul’s post-death route; it teaches embodied discipline—supporting clarity and vitality, which are treated as foundations for righteous living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use ghee thoughtfully: plain ghee is traditionally favored when pitta is aggravated, while ghee with a little salt is suggested for vāta-type imbalance—adapted to individual needs.