Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

विकाशि विशदं मद्यं मेदसो ऽस्माद्विपर्ययः / तीक्ष्णोदयाश्च दिव्युक्ताश्चित्तोपप्लविनो गुणाः

Transliteration

vikāśi viśadaṃ madyaṃ medaso 'smādviparyayaḥ / tīkṣṇodayāśca divyuktāścittopaplavino guṇāḥ

Translation

Liquor is said to be opening and clear; yet from it arises the opposite effect—an increase of fat and other distortions. Its qualities are described as sharply surging and deceptively ‘divine’, but they agitate and unsettle the mind.

Word by Word

• विकाशि: expansive / opening
• विकाशि: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; मद्यं-विशेषणम् ‘expansive/loosening’

• विशदम्: clear
• विशदम्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; madyaṃ-विशेषणम् ‘clear/pure’

• मद्यम्: liquor / alcohol
• मद्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular

• मेदसः: of fat
• मेदसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Genitive singular ‘of fat’

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Ablative singular ‘from this’

• विपर्ययः: reversal / opposite effect
• विपर्ययः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular ‘opposite/reversal’

• तीक्ष्णोदयाः: with sharp onset
• तीक्ष्णोदयाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; guṇāḥ-विशेषणम् ‘having sharp onset’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम्

• दिव्युक्ताः: called ‘divine’
• दिव्युक्ताः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘called divine’

• चित्तोपप्लविनः: mind-disturbing
• चित्तोपप्लविनः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + उपप्लविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘disturbing the mind’

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; Nominative plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Apparent benefits can conceal opposite outcomes; intoxicants disturb citta and produce viparyaya (perversion).

Vedantic Theme: Viveka against māyā-like deception; guarding citta from rajas-tamas agitation supports inner peace.

Application: Do not trust the initial ‘brightening’ effect of alcohol; monitor long-term metabolic and mental impacts; choose clarity-promoting habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.155 (madātyaya guṇa and effects)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding intoxicants in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames liquor as deceptively attractive—appearing ‘clear’ or even ‘divine’—yet producing contrary outcomes and mental disturbance, making restraint a dharmic safeguard for clarity and self-control.

How does this verse explain the effect of alcohol on the mind?

It characterizes alcohol’s qualities as ‘sharply arising’ and ‘mind-agitating’ (cittopaplavinaḥ), indicating that intoxication destabilizes mental steadiness and discernment despite its alluring appearance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat intoxicants as a risk to judgment and inner stability; choose habits that preserve mental clarity (sattva), especially when making ethical decisions or performing religious duties.