Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

गर्भिण्याः श्लैष्मिकैर्भक्ष्यैः श्लैष्मिको जायते नरः / वातलैः पित्तलैस्तद्वत्समधातुर्हिताशनात्

Transliteration

garbhiṇyāḥ ślaiṣmikairbhakṣyaiḥ ślaiṣmiko jāyate naraḥ / vātalaiḥ pittalaistadvatsamadhāturhitāśanāt

Translation

ഗർഭിണി കഫം വർധിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ആഹാരം സേവിച്ചാൽ കഫപ്രധാനമായ സന്താനം ജനിക്കുന്നു; അതുപോലെ വാതം വർധിപ്പിക്കുന്നതോ പിത്തം വർധിപ്പിക്കുന്നതോ ആയ ആഹാരത്താലും. എന്നാൽ ഹിതകരമായ പഥ്യാഹാരം സേവിച്ചതാൽ ധാതുസമത്വമുള്ള സമദോഷപ്രകൃതിയുള്ള സന്താനം ജനിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• गर्भिण्याः: of the pregnant woman
• गर्भिण्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्लैष्मिकैः: by phlegm-producing
• श्लैष्मिकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लैष्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भक्ष्यैः: foods (edibles)
• भक्ष्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• श्लैष्मिकः: phlegmatic (kapha-type)
• श्लैष्मिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लैष्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जायते: is born / arises
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• वातलैः: by vata-increasing
• वातलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पित्तलैः: by pitta-increasing
• पित्तलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Adverbial relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत् अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (comparative adverb: 'likewise')

• समधातुः: balanced in humors
• समधातुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समधातु = समः धातुः (balanced in humors/tissues)

• हिताशनात्: from wholesome food/diet
• हिताशनात्: Apadana (Source/अपाादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); हिताशन = हितम् अशनम् (wholesome diet)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āhāra (diet) shapes prakṛti and dhātu-sāmya; prenatal regimen influences offspring constitution.

Vedantic Theme: Deha as karma-kṣetra: the body’s qualities arise from guṇa/doṣa conditions within prakṛti; wise regulation supports sattva and steadiness.

Application: During pregnancy prefer hita-āhāra (wholesome, balancing foods); avoid doṣa-aggravating diets to reduce constitutional imbalance in the child.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168.32-35 (prakṛti-lakṣaṇa and doṣa predominance)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What does this Garuda Purana verse say about pregnancy diet?

It teaches that the pregnant mother’s food influences the child’s constitution—kapha, vata, or pitta dominance—while wholesome diet supports balanced dhātus.

How does the verse explain dosha formation (vata-pitta-kapha)?

It links doshic predominance to repeated prenatal exposure to foods that aggravate a particular dosha, indicating an early shaping of bodily tendencies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize a wholesome, balancing diet—especially during pregnancy—and avoid consistently aggravating foods to support stable constitution and well-being.