Shloka 9

Raktapitta Nidāna and Cikitsā: Causes, Signs, Srotas-Spread, and Śodhana Priority

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वं साध्यं कफाद्यस्मात्तद्विरेचनसाधितम् / बह्वौषधानि पित्तस्य विरेको हि वरौषधम्

Transliteration

ūrdhvaṃ sādhyaṃ kaphādyasmāttadvirecanasādhitam / bahvauṣadhāni pittasya vireko hi varauṣadham

Translation

Da Störungen von Kapha und dergleichen durch aufwärts gerichtete Therapien zu behandeln sind, werden sie durch abführende Reinigungsmaßnahmen (Virecana) behoben. Für Pitta gibt es viele Arzneien, doch die Purgation selbst gilt als das beste Heilmittel.

Word by Word

• ūrdhvam: upwards
• ūrdhvam: Sambandha (Direction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• sādhyam: treatable
• sādhyam: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sādh/साध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive/योग्य) (Neuter Nom/Acc singular; 'to be treated/curable')

• kapha-āt: from kapha
• kapha-āt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative singular)

• yasmāt: because (it is) from which
• yasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (Ablative singular; 'because/from which')

• tat: that (condition)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Neuter Nom/Acc singular)

• virecana-sādhitam: managed by purgation therapy
• virecana-sādhitam: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virecana (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sādh/साध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) (Neuter Nom/Acc singular; 'treated by purgation')

• bahu-auṣadhāni: many medicines
• bahu-auṣadhāni: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Neuter Nom/Acc plural; 'many medicines')

• pittasya: of pitta
• pittasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Neuter, Genitive singular)

• virekaḥ: purgation
• virekaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vireka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• vara-auṣadham: the best medicine
• vara-auṣadham: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Neuter Nom/Acc singular; 'excellent medicine')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right means for right imbalance: choose therapies aligned with doṣa nature; purgation is paramount for pitta.

Vedantic Theme: Yukti (skillful means) and moderation: harmonizing prakṛti through appropriate action supports clarity of mind.

Application: For pitta-dominant disorders, prioritize medically supervised virecana; for kapha-related conditions, apply appropriate upward-cleansing measures as indicated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.148 (śodhana/virecana discussion)

FAQs

What is the importance of virechana (purgation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that purgation is considered the foremost remedy, especially for pitta-related imbalance, highlighting purification as a primary therapeutic principle.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey here; it presents a practical, Ayurvedic rule about treating doṣic disorders through appropriate cleansing therapies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle of “right therapy for the right imbalance”: address heat/inflammation patterns (pitta) with cooling and cleansing under qualified guidance rather than random self-medication.