Shloka 10

Anupāna and the Doṣa-Effects of Foods, Waters, Dairy, Oils, and Preparations

Devanagari script

सक्षारमधुरस्निग्धो बलोष्णपित्तकृत्तिलः / बलघ्ना रूक्षलाः शीता विविधाः सस्यजातयः

Transliteration

sakṣāramadhurasnigdho baloṣṇapittakṛttilaḥ / balaghnā rūkṣalāḥ śītā vividhāḥ sasyajātayaḥ

Translation

Tila (Sesam) ist alkalisch, süß und ölig; es steigert Kraft, Wärme und Pitta. Die verschiedenen Arten von angebauten Körnern und Feldfrüchten hingegen mindern die Kraft, sind trocken in der Eigenschaft und kühlend.

Word by Word

• सक्षारमधुरस्निग्धः: alkaline, sweet, and unctuous
• सक्षारमधुरस्निग्धः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + क्षार (प्रातिपदिक) + मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—स-क्षार-मधुर-स्निग्धः (तत्पुरुष; ‘युक्तः’)

• बलोष्णपित्तकृत्तिलः: strong, hot, and pitta-cutting/reducing
• बलोष्णपित्तकृत्तिलः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—(बल-उष्ण-पित्त)-कृत्तिलः (तत्पुरुष; पित्तकृत्तिलः=पित्तं कृन्तति/कृन्तनशीलः)

• बलघ्नाः: strength-destroying
• बलघ्नाः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—बल-घ्न (तत्पुरुष)

• रूक्षलाः: dry
• रूक्षलाः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्षल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• शीताः: cold
• शीताः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सस्यजातयः: types of grains/crops
• सस्यजातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—सस्य-जाती (तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Not all staples are equally strengthening; discernment prevents harm from habitual diet.

Vedantic Theme: Moderation (mātrā) and non-attachment to taste; using food as maintenance rather than identity.

Application: Use tila for strength-building and warming needs, but monitor pitta/heat; recognize many cultivated grains/produce as potentially drying/cooling and strength-reducing—pair with appropriate fats, soups, and preparation methods.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (tila and sasyajāta guṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

Why is sesame (tila) discussed in the Garuda Purana?

This verse records tila’s traditional qualities—unctuous and strengthening yet pitta-increasing—showing the text’s practical cataloging of foods for doṣa balance.

Does this verse connect to śrāddha or pinda-dāna practices?

Not directly in wording, but sesame is widely used in ancestral rites in broader tradition; here, the focus is its bodily effects (heat/pitta and strength) rather than ritual procedure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use sesame when you need warmth and nourishment, but moderate it if you have high pitta (burning, acidity); balance dry, cooling staples with appropriate fats and warming preparation.