Shloka 18

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

तैलेन वातिके रोगे शर्कराज्यपयोन्वितैः / कटुतैलैः कफे व्योषैः पित्ते चत्रिफलाम्बुभिः

Transliteration

tailena vātike roge śarkarājyapayonvitaiḥ / kaṭutailaiḥ kaphe vyoṣaiḥ pitte catriphalāmbubhiḥ

Translation

In disorders caused by vāta, one should treat with oil combined with sugar, ghee, and milk. In kapha disorders, pungent oils together with vyoṣa (the three spices) are prescribed; and in pitta disorders, water infused with triphalā is to be used.

Word by Word

• तैलेन: with oil
• तैलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• वातिके: in vāta-type
• वातिके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वातिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (vāta-related)

• रोगे: in disease
• रोगे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शर्करा: sugar
• शर्करा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास-पूर्वपदम्

• आज्य: ghee
• आज्य: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास-पूर्वपदम्

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास-पूर्वपदम्

• अन्वितैः: combined with
• अन्वितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण from अन्वि/इ + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (endowed/combined)

• कटु: pungent
• कटु: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास-पूर्वपदम् (pungent)

• तैलैः: with oils
• तैलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• कफे: in kapha (disorder)
• कफे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• व्योषैः: with vyoṣa (dry ginger/pepper trio)
• व्योषैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; (त्रिकटु-द्रव्यसमूहः)

• पित्ते: in pitta (disorder)
• पित्ते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपातः (conjunction)

• त्रिफला: triphala
• त्रिफला: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + फला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (the three fruits)

• अम्बुभिः: with waters (decoctions)
• अम्बुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Doṣa-specific treatment: vāta pacified by unctuous/sweet nourishment; kapha reduced by pungent/penetrating agents; pitta cooled/cleansed with triphalā water.

Vedantic Theme: Body as instrument (śarīra-sādhana) requiring sattvic maintenance for dharma and devotion.

Application: Match therapy to doṣa: vāta—oil with sugar, ghee, milk; kapha—pungent oils with vyoṣa; pitta—triphala-infused water.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: medical/āyurveda subsections on doṣa, diet, and remedies

Characters & Entities

• Vata
• Kapha
• Pitta
• Triphala
• Vyoṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of tridoṣa-based treatment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the Garuda Purana also preserves practical Ayurvedic guidance: remedies are selected according to the dominant doṣa (vāta, kapha, or pitta), not as a one-size-fits-all cure.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the afterlife directly; instead, within the Vishnu–Garuda teaching frame, it emphasizes sustaining bodily balance (doṣa harmony), which supports dhārmic living and preparedness for life’s transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use doṣa-appropriate dietary and herbal choices: nourishing, unctuous supports for vāta; warming pungents for kapha; and cooling, cleansing measures like triphalā-infused water for pitta—ideally with qualified Ayurvedic guidance.