Shloka 52

Devanagari script

वातपित्तहरो रूक्षो वातघ्नः कफकृद्गुडः / स पित्तघ्नः परः पथ्यः पुराणो ऽसृक्प्रसादनः

Transliteration

vātapittaharo rūkṣo vātaghnaḥ kaphakṛdguḍaḥ / sa pittaghnaḥ paraḥ pathyaḥ purāṇo 'sṛkprasādanaḥ

Translation

ശർക്കരക്കട്ടി (ഗുഡം) വാതവും പിത്തവും ശമിപ്പിക്കും; എങ്കിലും സ്വഭാവത്തിൽ രൂക്ഷമാണ്—വാതം കുറയ്ക്കുകയും കഫം വർധിപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. എന്നാൽ പഴയ ഗുഡം പ്രത്യേകമായി പിത്തശമനം, പരമ പഥ്യം, രക്തത്തെ ശുദ്ധീകരിച്ച് പ്രസാദിപ്പിക്കുന്നതുമാണ്.

Word by Word

• वातपित्तहरः: remover of vāta and pitta
• वातपित्तहरः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (√हृ धातु, कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—वातपित्तयोः हरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• रूक्षः: dry
• रूक्षः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वातघ्नः: vāta-destroying
• वातघ्नः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (√हन् धातु, कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—वातं घ्नः (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष)

• कफकृत्: kapha-producing
• कफकृत्: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (√कृ धातु, कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कफं करोति (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष)

• गुडः: jaggery
• गुडः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सः: it/he (that)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पित्तघ्नः: pitta-destroying
• पित्तघ्नः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (√हन् धातु, कर्तृप्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—पित्तं घ्नः (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुष)

• परः: excellent/supreme
• परः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पथ्यः: wholesome/suitable (dietetic)
• पथ्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पुराणः: old/aged
• पुराणः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• असृक्प्रसादनः: blood-purifying/clarifying
• असृक्प्रसादनः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असृक्/अस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसादन (प्रातिपदिक; √सद्/√सद् caus?; ‘प्रसाद’ भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—असृजः प्रसादनः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yukti (discriminative use) in diet: the same substance has differing effects by age/processing; choose what is pathya for one’s condition.

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as sadhana: maintaining the body as an instrument for dharma and bhakti through moderation and discernment.

Application: Prefer purāṇa-guḍa (aged jaggery) when pitta/bleeding tendencies are present; monitor kapha increase; use diet as first-line regulation of doṣa and rakta.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (Ahara/dravya-guna section on sweeteners and fermented items)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

Why does the Garuda Purana distinguish old jaggery (purāṇa guḍa) from fresh jaggery?

This verse states that aged jaggery is considered more wholesome and particularly pitta-pacifying, with a blood-clarifying effect, implying a qualitative change with aging.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey or Yama’s realm; it provides Ayurvedic substance-classification meant to support health and balanced living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If using jaggery, note its kapha-increasing tendency; prefer aged jaggery when aiming to reduce pitta/heat and support blood-related balance, while keeping overall intake moderate.