Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

दधि तक्रं काञ्जिकं च लकुचं चाम्लवे तसम् / अम्लो लोणः शुण्ठीयुक्तो जारणः पाचनो रसः

Transliteration

dadhi takraṃ kāñjikaṃ ca lakucaṃ cāmlave tasam / amlo loṇaḥ śuṇṭhīyukto jāraṇaḥ pācano rasaḥ

Translation

Curd (dadhi), buttermilk (takra), fermented gruel (kāñjika), lakuca, and the sour cane (āmla-vetasa): these are of the sour taste. Sourness—especially joined with salt and dry ginger (śuṇṭhī)—acts as a digestive, carminative juice, as though it “cooks” the food within.

Word by Word

• दधि: curd
• दधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तक्रं: buttermilk
• तक्रं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• काञ्जिकं: sour gruel
• काञ्जिकं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्जिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• लकुचं: lakuca fruit
• लकुचं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लकुच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• अम्लवेतसम्: sour cane/reed (amla-vetasa)
• अम्लवेतसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + वेतस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अम्लः वेतसः)

• अम्लः: sour
• अम्लः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• लोणः: salt (saline taste/substance)
• लोणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुण्ठीयुक्तः: mixed with dry ginger
• शुण्ठीयुक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुण्ठी (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त ‘युक्त’ (past participle) ; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (शुण्ठ्या युक्तः)

• जारणः: digestive (causing digestion)
• जारणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पाचनः: digestive/cooking (promoting digestion)
• पाचनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रसः: taste/juice
• रसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Amla-rasa, especially with lavaṇa and śuṇṭhī, kindles jaraṇa/pācana (digestive transformation).

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-karma-viveka applied to diet; disciplined use of sense-objects rather than indulgence.

Application: For weak digestion/āma tendencies, use sour items judiciously; combine with salt and dry ginger when appropriate and tolerated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: kitchen/fermentation space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173.8-9 (properties and harms of excess amla)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

Why does the Garuda Purana mention curd, buttermilk, and kāñjika together?

They are common sour/fermented preparations, used to illustrate how amla rasa functions and how it can stimulate digestion.

What does ‘jāraṇa’ and ‘pācana’ mean in this verse?

Jāraṇa indicates breaking down undigested food and correcting heaviness; pācana indicates kindling digestion and aiding proper metabolic processing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When digestion is sluggish, small, appropriate amounts of sour-fermented foods with ginger and a little salt may help—provided they suit your constitution and condition.