Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

नादेयं वातलं रूक्षं सारसं मदुर लघु / वातश्लेष्महरं वार्प्यं ताडागं वातलं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

nādeyaṃ vātalaṃ rūkṣaṃ sārasaṃ madura laghu / vātaśleṣmaharaṃ vārpyaṃ tāḍāgaṃ vātalaṃ smṛtam

Translation

നദീജലം വാതവർധകവും രൂക്ഷവുമെന്നു പറയുന്നു; എങ്കിലും അത് സാരസം, മധുരം, ലഘു കൂടിയാണ്. കൂപ/വാപി ജലം വാതവും ശ്ലേഷ്മവും (കഫം) ഹരിക്കുന്നു. തടാകജലം വാതവർധകമെന്നു സ്മൃതം.

Word by Word

• नादेयम्: nādeya-salt (a kind of salt)
• नादेयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नादेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg)

• वातलम्: vāta-aggravating
• वातलम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg)

• रूक्षम्: dry; rough
• रूक्षम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg)

• सारसम्: from a lake/pond
• सारसम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सरसः/सरसि जातम्’ (neuter, nom/acc sg; lake-born; from a pond)

• मधुर: sweet
• मधुर: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg)

• लघु: light (to digest)
• लघु: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg)

• वातश्लेष्महरम्: removing vāta and kapha
• वातश्लेष्महरम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात + श्लेष्म + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वात-श्लेष्मौ हरति’ (neuter, nom/acc sg; removing vāta and kapha)

• वार्प्यम्: vārpya-salt (a kind of salt)
• वार्प्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्प्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg)

• ताडागम्: tāḍāga-salt (pond-salt variety)
• ताडागम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg)

• वातलम्: vāta-aggravating
• वातलम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वातल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nom/acc sg)

• स्मृतम्: is considered; is said
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(इति) स्मृतम्’ (past passive participle used predicatively)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contextual discernment (yukti) in daily necessities: not all ‘water’ is equal; source affects guṇa and doṣa impact.

Vedantic Theme: Yukti and viveka in the empirical realm (vyavahāra) to maintain sattva and reduce avoidable duḥkha.

Application: River-water is described as vāta-aggravating and drying though also sweet/light; well/stepwell water alleviates vāta-kapha; pond/tank water is vāta-aggravating—choose water source according to constitution, season, and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: water sources

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (water typology continues)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of different water sources in Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns doṣic effects to river, well, and pond water, showing that the Purana preserves practical health guidance alongside its spiritual teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: the text emphasizes disciplined living and bodily regulation; such self-care supports clarity, ritual fitness, and steadiness in dharmic practice, which the Purana links to auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prefer clean water suited to one’s constitution and condition; be cautious with stagnant sources, and note that dryness and vāta symptoms may worsen with certain waters—use discernment and hygiene.