Shloka 24

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

पाने च भोजने चैव अशीतिपलकं परम् / मध्ये षष्टिश्चाधमेषु चत्वारिंशच्च भोगिषु

Transliteration

pāne ca bhojane caiva aśītipalakaṃ param / madhye ṣaṣṭiścādhameṣu catvāriṃśacca bhogiṣu

Translation

പാനവും ഭോജനവും അർപ്പിക്കുമ്പോൾ പരമ അളവ് എൺപത് പലം; മധ്യമം അറുപത്; അധമ ഭോഗികൾക്ക് നാല്പത് (പലം) എന്നു പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• पाने: in drinking
• पाने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: ‘and’)

• भोजने: in eating/meal
• भोजने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘indeed/just’)

• अशीतिपलकम्: eighty palas
• अशीतिपलकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशीति (प्रातिपदिक) + पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास (‘eighty palas’)

• परम्: maximum/supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular) (अशीतिपलकम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• मध्ये: in the middle (dose)
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• षष्टिः: sixty
• षष्टिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular) (संख्यावाचक)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अधमेषु: among the low/weak (patients)
• अधमेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural) (अधम-भोगिषु इत्यर्थे)

• चत्वारिंशत्: forty
• चत्वारिंशत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular) (संख्यावाचक; रूपं ‘चत्वारिंशत्/चत्वारिंशम्’ परम्परया)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भोगिषु: among those who consume/enjoy (patients taking diet)
• भोगिषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proportion and appropriateness (yukti) in consumption/dispensing; different capacities require different measures.

Vedantic Theme: Moderation (mita) as sattva-supporting discipline; avoidance of excess that agitates mind and body.

Application: Use the stated pala measures as upper/middle/lower benchmarks for food and drink allotments, adjusting to the recipient’s capacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual-measure context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.201 (measurement system and regimen context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of specifying measures (pala) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse sets graded standards for the quantity of food and drink offerings, emphasizing precision and suitability in Shraddha-related observances rather than random or careless giving.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on after-death rites?

It supports the ritual framework that accompanies the soul’s post-death journey by prescribing concrete norms for offerings (pāna/bhojana), which are traditionally linked to merit and proper rite-performance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charitable feeding or memorial offerings with mindful proportion and intention—give appropriately, avoid waste, and align the offering with one’s capacity and the rite’s purpose.