Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

फाणितं पित्तलं तव्रिं सुरा मत्स्यण्डिका लघुः / खण्डं वृष्यं तथा स्निग्धं स्वाद्वसृक्पित्तवातजित्

Transliteration

phāṇitaṃ pittalaṃ tavriṃ surā matsyaṇḍikā laghuḥ / khaṇḍaṃ vṛṣyaṃ tathā snigdhaṃ svādvasṛkpittavātajit

Translation

ഫാണിതം (ഘനമായ കരിമ്പുരസം) പിത്തവർധകവും തീവ്രവും; സുരയും അതുപോലെ. മത്സ്യണ്ഡിക (സ്ഫടിക പഞ്ചസാര) ലഘു. ഖണ്ഡം (ശുദ്ധ പഞ്ചസാര) വൃഷ്യവും സ്നിഗ്ധവും മധുരവും; രക്ത-പിത്ത-വാതവികാരങ്ങളെ ജയിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• फाणितम्: molasses/jaggery syrup (phāṇita)
• फाणितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाणित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — neuter nominative/accusative singular

• पित्तलम्: pitta-increasing
• पित्तलम्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — neuter nominative/accusative singular

• तव्रिम्: tavri (a fermented/sour preparation; term of materia medica)
• तव्रिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तव्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — feminine accusative singular (as listed item)

• सुरा: liquor
• सुरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — feminine nominative singular

• मत्स्यण्डिका: matsyaṇḍikā (a sugar preparation)
• मत्स्यण्डिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्यण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — feminine nominative singular

• लघुः: light (easy to digest)
• लघुः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — masculine nominative singular (predicate adjective; ‘light’)

• खण्डम्: sugar (khaṇḍa)
• खण्डम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — neuter nominative/accusative singular

• वृष्यम्: aphrodisiac
• वृष्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — neuter nominative/accusative singular

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘likewise/also’

• स्निग्धम्: unctuous/oily
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — neuter nominative/accusative singular

• स्वादु-असृक्-पित्त-वात-जित्: sweet; conquering blood-disorder, pitta, and vāta
• स्वादु-असृक्-पित्त-वात-जित्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक) + असृज्/असृक् (प्रातिपदिक) + पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वात (प्रातिपदिक) + जित् (प्रातिपदिक; √जि धातु-सम्भव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः — masculine nominative singular; ‘जित्’ = जयकर्ता/नाशक

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yukti in diet: gradations within ‘sweet’ and fermented substances; avoid what inflames pitta and intensity (tīvra).

Vedantic Theme: Rāga-tyāga (restraint from craving) supports sattva and clarity.

Application: Limit phāṇita and surā where pitta is high; prefer lighter matsyaṇḍikā; use khaṇḍa for unctuous strengthening when indicated, mindful of overall balance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (ikṣu → phāṇita → sugar forms progression)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What does the Garuda Purana say about molasses (phāṇita)?

It classifies phāṇita as tīvra (strong) and pittala (pitta-aggravating), implying it should be used cautiously in heat/bleeding-type conditions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

The focus here is not on Yama or the afterlife; it is on proper diet and substance qualities, which the text frames as part of sustaining life and dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prefer lighter sweeteners when digestion is weak, avoid pitta-aggravating preparations during heat/inflammation, and use sweet, unctuous substances carefully for vāta dryness—under suitable guidance.