Shloka 14

Cikitsā-sāra: Doṣa Nidāna–Lakṣaṇa, Agni, Ajīrṇa/Āma Cikitsā, Daśamūla, and Prognostic Signs

Devanagari script

दोषधातुमलाधारो देहिनां देह उच्यते / तेषां समत्वमारोग्यं क्षयवृद्धेर्विपर्ययः

Transliteration

doṣadhātumalādhāro dehināṃ deha ucyate / teṣāṃ samatvamārogyaṃ kṣayavṛddherviparyayaḥ

Translation

ദേഹികളുടെ ദേഹം ദോഷ‑ധാതു‑മലങ്ങളുടെ ആധാരമെന്നു പറയുന്നു. അവയുടെ സമത്വം തന്നെയാണ് ആരോഗ്യ്യം; ക്ഷയം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വർദ്ധി എന്ന വിപരീതാവസ്ഥ രോഗം.

Word by Word

• doṣadhātumalādhāraḥ: the support/seat of doṣas, tissues, and wastes
• doṣadhātumalādhāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa + dhātu + mala + ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• dehinām: of embodied beings
• dehinām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dehin (प्रातिपदिक; देहिन् ‘embodied being’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (masculine, genitive plural)

• dehaḥ: the body
• dehaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

• ucyate: is said/called
• ucyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular)

• teṣām: of them (of these)
• teṣām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन (genitive plural; pronoun)

• samatvam: equilibrium
• samatvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular)

• ārogyam: health
• ārogyam: Karta (Subject-Complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārogya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (neuter, nominative singular; predicate nominative)

• kṣayavṛddheḥ: of decrease and increase
• kṣayavṛddheḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaya + vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (feminine, genitive singular; ‘of decrease and increase’)

• viparyayaḥ: the opposite, deviation
• viparyayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viparyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deha is the substrate of doṣa-dhātu-mala; health is their samatva (equilibrium), disease is kṣaya/vṛddhi (depletion/excess).

Vedantic Theme: Samatva as a harmonizing principle; the body as an instrument whose balance supports higher pursuits (dharma/artha/kāma/mokṣa).

Application: Aim for balance rather than extremes; monitor signs of depletion/excess and correct early through diet, routine, and appropriate therapies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168.15 (enumeration of dhātu/doṣa/mala); Garuda Purana 1.168.13 (classification of disorders)

Characters & Entities

• Dosha
• Dhatu
• Mala

FAQs

What is the importance of doṣa–dhātu–mala balance in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives a foundational Ayurvedic definition: health is the equilibrium of doṣas, tissues, and wastes—making balance (samatva) the core diagnostic and therapeutic aim.

How does this verse explain the cause of disease?

Disease is framed as viparyaya—imbalance—specifically through kṣaya (deficiency) or vṛddhi (excess) of doṣa, dhātu, or mala.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Track patterns of excess and deficiency (sleep, appetite, heaviness, dryness, heat, swelling) and aim for steady routines that restore balance, ideally with professional guidance.