Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

वृक्षाम्लं कफवातघ्नं जम्बीरं कफवातनुत् / वातघ्नं दाडिमं ग्राहि नागरङ्गफलं गुरु

Transliteration

vṛkṣāmlaṃ kaphavātaghnaṃ jambīraṃ kaphavātanut / vātaghnaṃ dāḍimaṃ grāhi nāgaraṅgaphalaṃ guru

Translation

vṛkṣāmla の果は kapha と vāta を鎮め、jambīra（香橼・レモン）もまた kapha と vāta を減ずる。dāḍima（ザクロ）は vāta を和らげ、grāhī（収斂・吸収）の性をもち、nāgaraṅga（橙の果）は消化に重い。

Word by Word

• वृक्षाम्लम्: vṛkṣāmla (a sour fruit)
• वृक्षाम्लम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष + आम्ल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक (tree-sour fruit; a souring agent)

• कफवातघ्नम्: kapha- and vāta-destroying
• कफवातघ्नम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कफ + वात + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (destroying kapha and vāta)

• जम्बीरम्: jambīra (lemon/citron)
• जम्बीरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक (lemon/citron)

• कफवातनुत्: dispelling kapha and vāta
• कफवातनुत्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कफ + वात + नुत् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (driving away kapha and vāta)

• वातघ्नम्: vāta-destroying
• वातघ्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (vāta-destroying)

• दाडिमम्: dāḍima (pomegranate)
• दाडिमम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाडिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक (pomegranate)

• ग्राहि: absorbent/astringent
• ग्राहि: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (astringent/absorbent; ‘grahī’)

• नागरङ्गफलम्: nāgaraṅga fruit (citron/orange-like)
• नागरङ्गफलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागरङ्ग + फल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्रव्यवाचक (fruit of nāgaraṅga)

• गुरु: heavy
• गुरु: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate adjective/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (heavy to digest)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa-karma of foods: sour/astringent fruits can pacify vāta/kapha; heaviness affects digestion and should guide intake.

Vedantic Theme: Yukta (appropriate) use of sense-objects; moderation to keep the instrument (body-mind) fit.

Application: Use vṛkṣāmla/jambīra for kapha-vāta tendencies; use dāḍima for vāta with need for grahī (astringent/absorbent) effect; take nāgaraṅga cautiously if digestion is weak.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (fruit properties continuing dietetics)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of describing fruit properties in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves practical Ayurvedic guidance—classifying foods by their effects on doṣas (kapha, vāta) and digestion—so daily diet supports health and ritual fitness.

How does this verse relate to Garuda–Vishnu dialogue themes?

Within Vishnu’s instruction to Garuda, the text also includes dharmic living supports such as health and dietetics, presenting bodily well-being as part of disciplined life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use citrus and pomegranate thoughtfully based on digestion and doṣa tendency; note that some citrus is described as “heavy,” suggesting moderation when digestion is weak.