Shloka 30

Rasa-Dravya Varga: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter, Astringent; Snehana and Svedana Guidelines

Devanagari script

उत्तमस्य पलं मात्रा त्रिभिश्चाक्षैश्च मध्यमे / जघन्यस्य पलार्धेन स्नेहक्वाथौषधेषु च

Transliteration

uttamasya palaṃ mātrā tribhiścākṣaiśca madhyame / jaghanyasya palārdhena snehakvāthauṣadheṣu ca

Translation

For the strongest person, the proper dose is one pala; for one of middling strength, three akṣa; and for the weakest, half a pala—this is the measure for unctuous preparations, decoctions, and medicines as well.

Word by Word

• उत्तमस्य: of the highest (grade)
• उत्तमस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of the best/upper (dose)’

• पलम्: a pala (unit of weight)
• पलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन — measure ‘pala’

• मात्रा: as the measure
• मात्रा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — ‘as the measure/by measure’

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन — ‘with three’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अक्षैः: with akṣa-units
• अक्षैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन — ‘with akṣa (unit/seed/weight)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मध्यमे: in the medium (grade)
• मध्यमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — ‘in the middle (grade)’

• जघन्यस्य: of the lowest (grade)
• जघन्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जघन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of the lowest (grade)’

• पलार्धेन: by half a pala
• पलार्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘पलस्य अर्धम्’ → ‘by half a pala’

• स्नेहक्वाथौषधेषु: in fats, decoctions, and medicines
• स्नेहक्वाथौषधेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह + क्वाथ + औषध (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन — इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (enumerative) ‘in fats, decoctions, and medicines’

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yukti (appropriate measure) according to bala (strength) in administering medicines.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as right order (ṛta) expressed through proportion and restraint in bodily care.

Application: Dose medicines/unctuous preparations/decoctions by patient strength: strong 1 pala, medium 3 akṣa, weak 1/2 pala; avoid one-size-fits-all dosing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173.31-33 (oleation, signs, sudation cautions); Garuda Purana 1.174.1 (Dhanvantari’s formulations)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of dosage (mātrā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that medicine and therapies must be measured according to a person’s strength—overdosing the weak and underdosing the strong are both improper.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe afterlife travel here; it gives practical dharmic guidance on maintaining the body through correct therapeutic measures.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use strength-appropriate dosing: adjust quantity to constitution and capacity, especially for rich substances like ghee/oil and concentrated decoctions.