Shloka 1

Madātyaya Nidāna and Lakṣaṇa: Liquor’s Qualities, Tridoṣa Presentations, and Fainting Signs

Devanagari script

चतुः पञ्चाशदुत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः धन्वन्तरिरुवाच / वक्ष्ये मदात्ययादेश्च निदानं मुनिभाषितम् / तीक्ष्णाम्लरूक्षसूक्ष्माम्लव्यवायासुकरं लघु

Transliteration

catuḥ pañcāśaduttaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dhanvantariruvāca / vakṣye madātyayādeśca nidānaṃ munibhāṣitam / tīkṣṇāmlarūkṣasūkṣmāmlavyavāyāsukaraṃ laghu

Translation

Dhanvantari said: “I shall explain, as taught by the sages, the causes (nidāna) of disorders such as madātyaya, intoxication. Liquor is sharp and sour, dry, subtly penetrating, intensely acidic; it incites sensual indulgence, is hard to endure, and is light—quick in its action.”

Word by Word

• चतुः: four
• चतुः: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्; (समासपूर्वपद)

• पञ्चाशत्: fifty
• पञ्चाशत्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्; (समासपूर्वपद)

• उत्तर: additional
• उत्तर: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषणम्; (समासपूर्वपद) ‘additional/above’

• शततमः: hundredth
• शततमः: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शततम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘hundredth’ (as part of chapter numbering)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular

• धन्वन्तरिः: Dhanvantari
• धन्वन्तरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; speaker name

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘said’

• वक्ष्ये: I will explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपदम्, उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘I will explain/say’

• मदात्ययादेश्च: of intoxication and related (conditions)
• मदात्ययादेश्च: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदात्यय (प्रातिपदिक) + आद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे ‘मदात्यय-आदि’; पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (आदीनाम्-लोपे); च = समुच्चय

• निदानम्: causation / etiology
• निदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; object of वक्ष्ये

• मुनिभाषितम्: spoken by sages
• मुनिभाषितम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + भाषित (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; qualifies निदानम् ‘spoken by sages’

• तीक्ष्णाम्लरूक्षसूक्ष्माम्लव्यवायासुकरम्: sharp, sour, dry, subtly sour; promoting intercourse; hard to bear
• तीक्ष्णाम्लरूक्षसूक्ष्माम्लव्यवायासुकरम्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यवाय (प्रातिपदिक) + असुकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; (मद्यं/पानं इत्यादि) विशेषणम्

• लघु: light
• लघु: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; adjective ‘light’

Speaker

Dhanvantari

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowing nidāna (causes) is the first step in preventing self-harm; intoxicants disturb restraint and clarity.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāda (heedlessness) obstructs sattva and spiritual progress; discipline supports inner steadiness.

Application: Understand alcohol’s properties (sharp, sour, subtle, quick-acting) and its tendency to provoke indulgence; practice moderation/avoidance based on constitution and context.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.155 (madātyaya-nidāna section begins); Garuda Purana 1.154 (preceding disease-nidāna discussion)

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

What is the importance of Madātyaya (intoxication disorder) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames madātyaya as a diagnosable condition with specific causes (nidāna), presented through Dhanvantari’s Ayurvedic lens, linking bodily disturbance with disciplined conduct.

How does this verse explain the effects of alcohol according to classical qualities?

It characterizes liquor as sharp, sour, dry, subtle/penetrating and quick-acting, implying it rapidly disturbs the system and can provoke impulses like sexual indulgence, making it difficult to tolerate safely.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat intoxicants as potent, quick-acting substances: avoid excess, recognize their destabilizing qualities, and favor moderation and self-control to protect health and clarity.