Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

सार्षपं कृमिपाण्डुघ्नं कफमेदो ऽनिलापहम् / क्षौमं तैलमचक्षुष्यं पित्तहृद्वातनाशनम्

Transliteration

sārṣapaṃ kṛmipāṇḍughnaṃ kaphamedo 'nilāpaham / kṣaumaṃ tailamacakṣuṣyaṃ pittahṛdvātanāśanam

Translation

Senföl (sārṣapa) vernichtet Würmer und Blässe und mindert kapha, Fett (medas) und vāta. Leinöl (kṣauma) ist den Augen nicht zuträglich; doch besänftigt es pitta, Herzleiden und vāta.

Word by Word

• सार्षपम्: mustard-related (from mustard)
• सार्षपम्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — neuter nominative/accusative singular

• कृमि-पाण्डु-घ्नम्: destroying worms and jaundice
• कृमि-पाण्डु-घ्नम्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाण्डु (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक; √हन् धातु-सम्भव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः — neuter nominative/accusative singular; ‘घ्न’ = नाशक

• कफ-मेदः-अनिल-अपहम्: removing phlegm, fat, and wind
• कफ-मेदः-अनिल-अपहम्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिल (प्रातिपदिक) + अपह (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ/अप√हृ धातु-सम्भव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः — neuter nominative/accusative singular; ‘अपह’ = अपहर्तृ/नाशक

• क्षौमम्: made of flax/linen (kṣauma)
• क्षौमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — neuter nominative/accusative singular

• तैलम्: oil
• तैलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — neuter nominative/accusative singular

• अ-चक्षुष्यं: not good for eyesight
• अ-चक्षुष्यं: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्षुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अ- (निषेध-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध-प्रयोगः — neuter nominative/accusative singular; ‘not beneficial for the eyes’

• पित्त-हृत्-वात-नाशनम्: destroying pitta, heart-disease, and vāta
• पित्त-हृत्-वात-नाशनम्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वात (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; √नश् धातु-सम्भव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः — neuter nominative/accusative singular; ‘नाशन’ = नाशक

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka (discernment) in consumption: the same category (oil) differs in effects; avoid what harms a sense-organ.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-saṃyama supported by right diet; body as field (kṣetra) requiring intelligent stewardship.

Application: Prefer sarṣapa-tailam for kapha/medas/vāta and krimi-pāṇḍu contexts; use kṣauma-tailam with caution for eyes; apply according to pitta/heart/vāta indications.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (taila-guṇa continuum: sesame, mustard, flax, etc.)

FAQs

What does Garuda Purana say about mustard oil (sarṣapa taila)?

It is described as helpful against worms (kṛmi), pallor (pāṇḍu), and as reducing kapha, excess fat (medas), and vāta.

Why is kṣauma taila called ‘acakṣuṣya’ (not good for the eyes)?

The verse explicitly labels linseed/flax oil as not eye-friendly, while still crediting it with pacifying pitta and vāta and helping heart-related complaints.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It can inform traditional oil selection by constitution (doṣa) and condition, while eye-related use should be approached cautiously and guided by expertise.