Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

दहनो दीपनस्तीक्ष्णः सर्जिक्षारो विदारणः / दोषघ्नं नाभसं वारिलघु हृद्यं विषापहम्

Transliteration

dahano dīpanastīkṣṇaḥ sarjikṣāro vidāraṇaḥ / doṣaghnaṃ nābhasaṃ vārilaghu hṛdyaṃ viṣāpaham

Translation

നാഭസം (മഴവെള്ളം) ദഹനകരം, ദീപനം, തീക്ഷ്ണം, ക്ഷാരസ്വഭാവം, വിദാരകം. ഇത് ദോഷഘ്നം, ആകാശസമം ലഘു, ജീർണിക്കാൻ ലഘു, ഹൃദ്യം, വിഷാപഹം എന്നും പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• दहनः: dahana (a caustic/alkaline substance)
• दहनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative, singular)

• दीपनः: kindling (digestive fire)
• दीपनः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘दीपन’ = दीपनकर (masculine, nominative, singular; kindling)

• तीक्ष्णः: sharp; intense
• तीक्ष्णः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative, singular)

• सर्जिक्षारः: sarji-alkali
• सर्जिक्षारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्जि + क्षार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सर्जेः क्षारः’ (masculine, nominative, singular; sarji-alkali)

• विदारणः: piercing; splitting
• विदारणः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + दृ (धातु) → विदारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘विदारण’ = भेदन/विभेदन-कर (masculine, nominative, singular; piercing/splitting)

• दोषघ्नम्: doṣa-destroying
• दोषघ्नम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोष + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘दोषान् हन्ति’ (neuter, nom/acc sg; destroying doṣas)

• नाभसम्: nabhasa (a type/variety; ‘sky-born’)
• नाभसम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाभस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘नभसि/आकाशे जातम्’ इति (neuter, nom/acc sg; sky/atmosphere-related; here as a property-name)

• वारिलघु: very light (water-like)
• वारिलघु: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारि + लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वारि-इव लघु’/‘वारिणा लघु’ (neuter, nom/acc sg; light like water/very light)

• हृद्यम्: heart-friendly; pleasant
• हृद्यम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘हृदये हितम्’ (neuter, nom/acc sg; pleasing/beneficial to the heart)

• विषापहम्: antidotal; poison-removing
• विषापहम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष + अपह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विषं अपहन्ति’ (neuter, nom/acc sg; removing poison)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purity and right sourcing of essentials (water) affects health; nature’s cycles provide cleansing supports when properly understood.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta) reflected in natural elements; aligning daily intake with wholesome sources supports sattva and steadiness.

Application: Prefer appropriately collected/clean rainwater when indicated; it is described as dīpana, tīkṣṇa, kṣāra-like, doṣa-ghna, light, hṛdya, and viṣāpaha—apply with context and safety (purification) in mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: natural source

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (water typology and effects)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of rainwater (nābhasa vāri) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats rainwater as a potent, light, digestion-kindling water that can pacify doṣic imbalance and is regarded as antitoxic, highlighting scriptural interest in water quality for health.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it presents dhārmic-āyurvedic guidance on bodily maintenance, which supports ritual purity and disciplined living emphasized throughout the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle that water quality affects digestion and well-being; choose clean, light, easily digestible water and avoid contaminated sources—especially when observing fasts, śrāddha, or other rituals.