Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

चक्षुष्यो मधुरो ज्ञेयो रसधातुविवह्द्धनः / अम्लोत्तरो मनोहृद्यं तथा दीपनपाचनम्

Transliteration

cakṣuṣyo madhuro jñeyo rasadhātuvivahddhanaḥ / amlottaro manohṛdyaṃ tathā dīpanapācanam

Translation

Der süße Geschmack gilt als wohltuend für die Augen und als Mehrer von rasa und den Körpergeweben (dhātu). Überwiegt das Saure, erfreut es den Geist und entfacht zugleich das Verdauungsfeuer und fördert die Verdauung (dīpana, pācana).

Word by Word

• चक्षुष्यः: beneficial for the eyes
• चक्षुष्यः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्षुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मधुरः: sweet
• मधुरः: Karta/Predicative
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्ञेयः: should be known (as)
• ज्ञेयः: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त, तव्यत्/यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक-भाव (to be known)

• रसधातुविवर्धनः: increasing the rasa-dhātu
• रसधातुविवर्धनः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + धातु (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्धन (प्रातिपदिक; वि+√वृध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: रसधातोः विवर्धनः)

• अम्लोत्तरः: predominantly sour
• अम्लोत्तरः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘अम्लः उत्तरः’ = predominantly sour)

• मनःहृद्यम्: pleasing to the mind
• मनःहृद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मनसः हृद्यम्)

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

• दीपनपाचनम्: kindling digestion and digesting
• दीपनपाचनम्: Karta/Predicative
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीपन (प्रातिपदिक; √दीप्) + पाचन (प्रातिपदिक; √पच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (समाहार-द्वन्द्व: दीपनं च पाचनं च)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rasa impacts dhātu-puṣṭi and agni: madhura supports eyes and tissue nourishment; amla supports mental satisfaction and stimulates digestion (dīpana-pācana).

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic maintenance of the instrument (karaṇa-śarīra) for higher pursuits; harmony of mind (manas) and digestion (agni).

Application: Use appropriate sweet foods for depletion/dryness and eye strain (within kapha limits); use sour judiciously to kindle appetite/digestion when agni is low, avoiding excess in pitta conditions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168: rasa effects on doṣa/dhātu and agni in adjacent verses

Characters & Entities

• Rasa
• Dhatus

FAQs

What benefit of the sweet taste (madhura rasa) is highlighted in this verse?

It is described as cakṣuṣya (good for the eyes) and as nourishing—enhancing rasa and supporting dhātu growth.

How does this verse relate sour taste to digestion?

It links sour predominance with dīpana (kindling appetite/agni) and pācana (supporting digestion/metabolism).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Balance tastes: use sweet foods for nourishment and steadiness, and use sour judiciously to stimulate appetite and digestion when appropriate.