Shloka 22

Devanagari script

हरीतकी भक्ष्यमाणा नागेरण गुडेन वा / सैन्धवोपहिता वापि सातत्येनाग्निदीपनी

Transliteration

harītakī bhakṣyamāṇā nāgeraṇa guḍena vā / saindhavopahitā vāpi sātatyenāgnidīpanī

Translation

Harītakī, when eaten regularly—either with nāgara (dry ginger) and jaggery, or with saindhava (rock salt)—steadily kindles and strengthens the digestive fire (agni).

Word by Word

• हरीतकी: harītakī (chebulic myrobalan)
• हरीतकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरीतकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; औषधिद्रव्यनाम

• भक्ष्यमाणा: being eaten/consumed
• भक्ष्यमाणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (Present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हरीतकी-विशेषण

• नागेरण: with dry ginger (nāgara)
• नागेरण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (द्रव्यनाम), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/सहकारि

• गुडेन: with jaggery
• गुडेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (particle of alternative)

• सैन्धवोपहिता: combined with rock-salt
• सैन्धवोपहिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सैन्धव (प्रातिपदिक) + उपहित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सैन्धवेन उपहिता = ‘provided/combined with rock-salt’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हरीतकी-विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: also/even)

• सातत्येन: continuously/regularly
• सातत्येन: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सातत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (adverbial instrumental)

• अग्निदीपनी: kindling digestive fire (appetizer)
• अग्निदीपनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + दीपनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अग्निं दीपयति इति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हरीतकी-विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śarīra-dhāraṇa (maintaining the body) through regulated diet supports dharma and spiritual practice.

Vedantic Theme: Body as an instrument (sādhana-śarīra) requiring sattvic maintenance; agni as inner order.

Application: Use harītakī regularly with dry ginger + jaggery or with rock salt to kindle jatharāgni, especially in sluggish digestion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.170 (Ayurveda/auṣadha-prayoga section)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Harītakī in Garuda Purana?

In this verse, Harītakī is highlighted as a reliable, regular (sātatyena) digestive stimulant, especially when combined with warming or mineral adjuncts like dry ginger, jaggery, or rock salt.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

The verse is medical rather than eschatological; it supports dharmic living by promoting bodily balance, which in Purāṇic instruction is part of sustaining one’s duties and spiritual practices.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If suitable for one’s constitution, Harītakī may be taken in small, regular doses with appropriate adjuncts; consult an Ayurveda professional if pregnant, chronically ill, or on medication.