Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

मन्दस्तीक्ष्णो ऽथ विषमः समश्चैति चतुर्विधाः / कफपित्तानिलाधिक्यात्तत्साम्याज्जाठरो ऽनलः

Transliteration

mandastīkṣṇo 'tha viṣamaḥ samaścaiti caturvidhāḥ / kaphapittānilādhikyāttatsāmyājjāṭharo 'nalaḥ

Translation

Das Verdauungsfeuer (jāṭharāgni) ist vierfach: schwach, scharf, unregelmäßig und ausgeglichen. Es wird so durch das Überwiegen von Kapha, Pitta oder Vāta oder durch ihr Gleichmaß; dies ist das Magenfeuer.

Word by Word

• मन्दः: dull, weak (digestive fire)
• मन्दः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• तीक्ष्णः: sharp, intense
• तीक्ष्णः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अथ: then, and further
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (particle: then/now)

• विषमः: irregular
• विषमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• समः: balanced, even
• समः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• एति: is/comes to be (falls into)
• एति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चतुर्विधाः: of four kinds
• चतुर्विधाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष: चतुर्णां विधाः)

• कफपित्तानिलाधिक्यात्: from predominance of kapha, pitta, and vāta
• कफपित्तानिलाधिक्यात्: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ + पित्त + अनिल + आधिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष: कफ-पित्त-अनिल-आधिक्य)

• तत्साम्यात्: from their equilibrium
• तत्साम्यात्: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + साम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष: तस्य साम्यम्)

• जाठरः: gastric, digestive
• जाठरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाठर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनलः: fire (digestive fire)
• अनलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Jāṭharāgni is fourfold (manda/tīkṣṇa/viṣama/sama) and is shaped by doṣa predominance or equilibrium.

Vedantic Theme: Body as an instrument (śarīra-sādhana) requiring sattvic balance; harmony of guṇas/doṣas supports clarity of mind.

Application: Assess digestion type and infer doṣa imbalance; aim for sama-agni through diet, routine, and moderation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168.37-40 (management of agni and ajīrṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is jāṭharāgni according to this Garuda Purana verse?

It is the digestive ‘fire’ in the stomach, described here as fourfold—weak, sharp, irregular, or balanced—depending on doṣa dominance or equilibrium.

How do doṣas influence digestion in this verse?

Kapha tends toward मंद (sluggish) agni, pitta toward तीक्ष्ण (intense) agni, vāta toward विषम (irregular) agni, and doṣa balance yields सम (steady) agni.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Match food and routine to your agni type—lightening for sluggishness, cooling for excess heat, grounding regularity for irregular digestion, and maintenance habits for balanced agni.