Shloka 9

Raktapitta Nidāna and Cikitsā: Causes, Signs, Srotas-Spread, and Śodhana Priority

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वं साध्यं कफाद्यस्मात्तद्विरेचनसाधितम् / बह्वौषधानि पित्तस्य विरेको हि वरौषधम्

Transliteration

ūrdhvaṃ sādhyaṃ kaphādyasmāttadvirecanasādhitam / bahvauṣadhāni pittasya vireko hi varauṣadham

Translation

Since disorders of kapha and the like are to be treated by upward-directed therapies, they are remedied through purgative cleansing. For pitta there are many medicines, yet purgation itself is declared the best remedy.

Word by Word

• ūrdhvam: upwards
• ūrdhvam: Sambandha (Direction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• sādhyam: treatable
• sādhyam: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sādh/साध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive/योग्य) (Neuter Nom/Acc singular; 'to be treated/curable')

• kapha-āt: from kapha
• kapha-āt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative singular)

• yasmāt: because (it is) from which
• yasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (Ablative singular; 'because/from which')

• tat: that (condition)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Neuter Nom/Acc singular)

• virecana-sādhitam: managed by purgation therapy
• virecana-sādhitam: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virecana (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √sādh/साध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) (Neuter Nom/Acc singular; 'treated by purgation')

• bahu-auṣadhāni: many medicines
• bahu-auṣadhāni: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Neuter Nom/Acc plural; 'many medicines')

• pittasya: of pitta
• pittasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Neuter, Genitive singular)

• virekaḥ: purgation
• virekaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vireka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• vara-auṣadham: the best medicine
• vara-auṣadham: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Neuter Nom/Acc singular; 'excellent medicine')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right means for right imbalance: choose therapies aligned with doṣa nature; purgation is paramount for pitta.

Vedantic Theme: Yukti (skillful means) and moderation: harmonizing prakṛti through appropriate action supports clarity of mind.

Application: For pitta-dominant disorders, prioritize medically supervised virecana; for kapha-related conditions, apply appropriate upward-cleansing measures as indicated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.148 (śodhana/virecana discussion)

FAQs

What is the importance of virechana (purgation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that purgation is considered the foremost remedy, especially for pitta-related imbalance, highlighting purification as a primary therapeutic principle.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey here; it presents a practical, Ayurvedic rule about treating doṣic disorders through appropriate cleansing therapies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle of “right therapy for the right imbalance”: address heat/inflammation patterns (pitta) with cooling and cleansing under qualified guidance rather than random self-medication.