Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

एतद्दोषी हयस्त्याज्य उत्तमो ऽश्वस्तुरुष्कजः / मध्यमः पञ्चहस्तश्च कनीयांश्च त्रिहस्तकः

Transliteration

etaddoṣī hayastyājya uttamo 'śvasturuṣkajaḥ / madhyamaḥ pañcahastaśca kanīyāṃśca trihastakaḥ

Translation

A horse possessing this defect should be rejected. The best type is the Turushka-bred horse; the middling type is five hands, and the inferior is three hands.

Word by Word

• एतद्दोषी: having this defect
• एतद्दोषी: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दोषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘एतद्-दोषः अस्य अस्ति’ (having this defect)

• हयः: horse
• हयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्याज्यः: to be rejected/abandoned
• त्याज्यः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु) + य (कृदन्त; तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण: ‘त्यक्तव्यः’ (to be abandoned)

• उत्तमः: best
• उत्तमः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अश्वस्तुरुष्कजः: a horse born among the Turushkas (Turkish breed)
• अश्वस्तुरुष्कजः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तुरुष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त; √जन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘तुरुष्कात् जातः अश्वः/अश्वस्तुरुष्कजः’ (Turkish-bred horse)

• मध्यमः: middling
• मध्यमः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पञ्चहस्तः: five-hand (measure)
• पञ्चहस्तः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘पञ्च हस्ताः प्रमाणम् यस्य’ (five hands in measure)

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

• कनीयान्: smaller/lesser
• कनीयान्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

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

• त्रिहस्तकः: three-hand (measure)
• त्रिहस्तकः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘त्रयः हस्ताः प्रमाणम् यस्य’ (three-hand measure)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Appropriate selection and rejection (yogyāyogya-viveka) in practical life; valuing fitness and proper standards.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) applied in worldly duties; sattvic orderliness in conduct.

Application: In modern terms: quality control—reject defective tools/vehicles; choose fit resources for duties and safety.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: region/ethnographic provenance

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections on omens/marks of animals and conveyances (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of rejecting a defective horse in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that a horse with the specified defect should be avoided, reflecting the Purana’s concern for ritual and dharmic appropriateness—only suitable, auspicious animals are recommended for sanctioned use.

How does this verse explain classification of horses?

It gives a hierarchy: the best is identified as Turushka-bred, while other grades are indicated by traditional hand-based measurement (hasta-pramāṇa), distinguishing middling and inferior types.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle of dharmic discernment: for any sacred or ethical undertaking, choose fit and appropriate means/resources, avoiding what is known to be defective or unsuitable.