Shloka 22

Anupāna and the Doṣa-Effects of Foods, Waters, Dairy, Oils, and Preparations

Devanagari script

सरमामलकं वृष्यं मधुरं हृद्यमम्लकृत् / भुक्तप्ररोचका पुण्या हरीतक्यमृतोपमा

Transliteration

saramāmalakaṃ vṛṣyaṃ madhuraṃ hṛdyamamlakṛt / bhuktaprarocakā puṇyā harītakyamṛtopamā

Translation

L’Āmalaka (groseille indienne) est excellent, fortifiant et stimulant, doux, agréable au cœur, et il engendre une acidité salutaire. La Harītakī (myrobolan chebule) ravive la saveur après le repas, est source de mérite, et se compare à l’amṛta, le nectar d’immortalité.

Word by Word

• सरमा: Saramā (a plant/fruit name)
• सरमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम (proper/common noun)

• आमलकम्: āmalaka (Indian gooseberry)
• आमलकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वृष्यम्: aphrodisiac; virility-promoting
• वृष्यम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हृद्यम्: pleasant/beneficial for the heart
• हृद्यम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अम्लकृत्: acid-forming; producing sourness
• अम्लकृत्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय: कृत्/क्विप्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘अम्लं करोति’ इति

• भुक्त: eaten; after eating
• भुक्त: Purva-pada (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (समासाङ्ग), ‘eaten/after eating’ अर्थे

• प्ररोचका: appetite-stimulating; pleasing to taste
• प्ररोचका: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + रुच् (धातु) + ण्वुल् (प्रातिपदिक: प्ररोचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘रुचिं जनयति’

• पुण्या: meritorious; auspicious
• पुण्या: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हरीतकी: harītakī (Terminalia chebula)
• हरीतकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरीतकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अमृतोपमा: like nectar; nectar-like
• अमृतोपमा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘अमृतस्य उपमा’ (उपमान-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right use of food and herbs as a dharmic support for health, clarity, and steadiness of mind.

Vedantic Theme: Śarīra as sādhana—care of the body as an instrument for dharma and (eventually) mokṣa.

Application: Use āmalaka as a heart-pleasing rasāyana; use harītakī to kindle post-meal relish/digestion and regularity, with moderation per constitution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (Ayurveda/dravya-guṇa section; fruit and herb properties)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is highlighted about āmalaka in this verse?

Āmalaka is praised as highly beneficial—vitality-promoting, pleasing to the heart, and having a distinctive sour effect despite a sweet overall quality.

Why is harītakī called “amṛtopamā” (like nectar)?

The verse elevates harītakī as exceptionally beneficial—especially for appetite/relish and digestive well-being—thus comparing it to nectar.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Āmalakī and harītakī are traditionally used to support vitality and digestion; the verse suggests their role in promoting appetite balance and overall well-being.