Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

मधुरो लवणः स्निग्धो गुरुः श्लेषमातिपिच्छिलः / गुदश्रोण्याश्रयो वायुः पित्तं पक्वाशयस्थितम्

Transliteration

madhuro lavaṇaḥ snigdho guruḥ śleṣamātipicchilaḥ / gudaśroṇyāśrayo vāyuḥ pittaṃ pakvāśayasthitam

Translation

ശ്ലേഷ്മം (കഫം) മധുരം, ലവണവും, സ്നിഗ്ധവും, ഗുരുവും, അതിപിച്ഛിലവുമാണ്. വായു ഗുദവും ശ്രോണിപ്രദേശവും ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നു; പിത്തം പക്വാശയത്തിൽ (വലിയ കുടലിൽ) സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• मधुरः: sweet
• मधुरः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• लवणः: salty
• लवणः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्निग्धः: unctuous/oily
• स्निग्धः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गुरुः: heavy
• गुरुः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्लेष्मातिपिच्छिलः: excessively slimy/mucus-increasing
• श्लेष्मातिपिच्छिलः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अति (अव्यय) + पिच्छिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अत्यर्थ-उपपद/अव्ययपूर्व)

• गुदश्रोण्याश्रयः: located in the anus and pelvis/hips
• गुदश्रोण्याश्रयः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुद (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रोणि (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गुद-श्रोण्योः आश्रयः)

• वायुः: vāta (wind-doṣa)
• वायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पित्तम्: pitta (bile-doṣa)
• पित्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd: Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• पक्वाशयस्थितम्: situated in the colon/large intestine
• पक्वाशयस्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्वाशय (प्रातिपदिक; पक्व + आशय) + स्थित (कृदन्त, √स्था)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘स्थित’; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: पक्वाशये स्थितम्)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa–sthāna: doshas have characteristic qualities and specific bodily seats; health depends on knowing their nature and location.

Vedantic Theme: Deha as kṣetra (field) to be understood; discriminative knowledge (viveka) applied to embodied experience.

Application: Use dosha qualities and seats to interpret symptoms (e.g., pelvic/rectal vāta disorders; pakvāśaya pitta involvement) and guide diet/lifestyle.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168 (Ayurveda/śarīra section): dosha-guṇa, rasa, dhātu discussions in adjacent verses

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of identifying the seats of vāta and pitta in the Garuda Purana?

Knowing the doṣa-sthāna (sites) helps explain where imbalances arise and how symptoms spread, supporting practical diagnosis and disciplined health practices.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By mapping bodily forces to specific locations, it underscores the body’s organized yet perishable nature—contrasting with the soul’s independence from these material functions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain digestive and eliminative health—since vāta and pitta are linked here to the pelvic/colon region—through routine, hydration, suitable food, and restraint.