Shloka 18

Cikitsā-sāra: Doṣa Nidāna–Lakṣaṇa, Agni, Ajīrṇa/Āma Cikitsā, Daśamūla, and Prognostic Signs

Devanagari script

कफस्यामाशयस्थानं कण्ठो वा मूर्धसन्धयः / कटुतिक्तकषायाश्च कोपयन्ति समीरणम्

Transliteration

kaphasyāmāśayasthānaṃ kaṇṭho vā mūrdhasandhayaḥ / kaṭutiktakaṣāyāśca kopayanti samīraṇam

Translation

Kapha hat seinen Sitz im Magen (āmāśaya), ebenso im Hals und in den Gelenken des Kopfes. Scharfer, bitterer und herber (adstringierender) Geschmack reizt Vāyu (samīraṇa) und lässt ihn anschwellen.

Word by Word

• कफस्य: of kapha
• कफस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• आमाशयस्थानम्: the seat in the stomach
• आमाशयस्थानम्: Karta/Predicative (Subject-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमाशय (प्रातिपदिक; आम + आशय) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: आमाशयस्य स्थानम्)

• कण्ठः: throat
• कण्ठः: Karta/Predicative (Subject-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• मूर्धसन्धयः: joints of the head
• मूर्धसन्धयः: Karta/Predicative (Subject-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मूर्ध्नः सन्धयः)

• कटु: pungent
• कटु: Karta (part of compound subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (रस-नाम), प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहारार्थे (as taste-name)

• तिक्त: bitter
• तिक्त: Karta (part of compound subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (रस-नाम), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कषायाः: astringent (tastes)
• कषायाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कषाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘कषाय’ (astringent tastes)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction ‘and’)

• कोपयन्ति: aggravate/provoke
• कोपयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कुप् (धातु) [णिच् causative: कोपय-]
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• समीरणम्: vāta (wind)
• समीरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rasa–doṣa relation: certain tastes (kaṭu, tikta, kaṣāya) aggravate vāta; kapha has defined anatomical seats.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa-based discernment applied to bodily experience; moderation through knowledge of cause-effect (hetu-phala).

Application: For vāta-prakopa (dryness, pain, tremor), reduce pungent/bitter/astringent excess; for kapha issues, consider its stomach/throat/head-joint involvement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168: rasa classifications and their doṣa effects in surrounding verses

Characters & Entities

• Kapha
• Vayu (Samirana)

FAQs

What does this Garuda Purana verse say about Kapha’s main seat in the body?

It identifies the stomach (āmāśaya) as Kapha’s primary seat, with additional association to the throat and cranial joints.

Which tastes aggravate Vāyu (Vata) according to this verse?

Pungent (kaṭu), bitter (tikta), and astringent (kaṣāya) tastes are said to provoke Vāyu (samīraṇa).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If someone has Vata-type symptoms (dryness, restlessness), they may reduce excessive pungent/bitter/astringent foods and favor balancing diet choices under guidance.