Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

पक्वाम्रं वातकृन्मांसशुक्रवर्णबलप्रदम् / वातघ्नं कफपित्तघ्नं ग्राहि विष्टम्भि जाम्बवम्

Transliteration

pakvāmraṃ vātakṛnmāṃsaśukravarṇabalapradam / vātaghnaṃ kaphapittaghnaṃ grāhi viṣṭambhi jāmbavam

Translation

Ripe mango (pakvāmra) increases vāta, yet it nourishes flesh, śukra (semen), complexion, and strength. Jāmbava (jambu/rose-apple) pacifies vāta and also alleviates kapha and pitta; it is astringent and binding, and may cause constipation and intestinal obstruction.

Word by Word

• पक्वाम्रम्: ripe mango
• पक्वाम्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्व (पच् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त) + आम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘पक्वः आम्रः’ (ripe mango)

• वातकृत्: vāta-producing
• वातकृत्: Purva-pada (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय: कृत्/क्विप्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘वातं करोति’

• मांस: flesh; muscle
• मांस: Purva-pada (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासाङ्ग)

• शुक्र: semen; reproductive tissue
• शुक्र: Purva-pada (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासाङ्ग)

• वर्ण: complexion; color
• वर्ण: Purva-pada (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समासाङ्ग)

• बल: strength
• बल: Purva-pada (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासाङ्ग)

• प्रदम्: giving; bestowing
• प्रदम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु) + क (प्रातिपदिक: प्रद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘प्रद’ = दाता (giver)

• वातघ्नम्: destroying vāta
• वातघ्नम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘वातं हन्ति’

• कफपित्तघ्नम्: destroying kapha and pitta
• कफपित्तघ्नम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘कफं पित्तं च हन्ति’

• ग्राहि: absorbent; astringent
• ग्राहि: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + इन् (कृत्/प्रातिपदिक: ग्राहिन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• विष्टम्भि: constipating; causing blockage
• विष्टम्भि: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + स्तम्भ् (धातु) + इन् (प्रातिपदिक: विष्टम्भिन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘विष्टम्भं करोति’ (causing obstruction/constipation)

• जाम्बवम्: jāmbava (rose-apple/jambu fruit)
• जाम्बवम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाम्बव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्रव्यनाम

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Moderation and self-knowledge: even beneficial things carry trade-offs; wise living is balancing effects.

Vedantic Theme: Madhyamā-pratipad (middle way) as applied to diet; body as field of karma where choices yield immediate phala.

Application: Use ripe mango for nourishment/strength when vāta is not aggravated; use jāmbava for doṣa pacification buts be cautious in constipation/obstruction tendency; adjust with preparation and quantity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (fruit guṇa; notes on constipation/viṣṭambha)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dietary guidance in Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the Purana also preserves practical dharmic living through food-knowledge—linking fruits to doṣa balance, strength, and digestion.

How does this verse explain bodily effects in traditional terms?

It uses doṣa language: ripe mango is said to raise vāta but support strength and tissues, while jambu is binding/astringent and may constipate despite pacifying doṣas.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cautionary principle: foods can have mixed effects—choose fruits according to digestion and tendency to constipation or dryness.