Shloka 17

Rasa-Dravya Varga: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter, Astringent; Snehana and Svedana Guidelines

Devanagari script

तिक्तो रसश्छेदनः स्याद्रोचनी दीपनस्तथा / शोधनो ज्वरतृष्णाघ्नो मूर्छाकण्ठार्तिकादिजित्

Transliteration

tikto rasaśchedanaḥ syādrocanī dīpanastathā / śodhano jvaratṛṣṇāghno mūrchākaṇṭhārtikādijit

Translation

Rasanya pahit; dikatakan ia “memotong” (menguraikan) sumbatan yang terkumpul, membangkitkan selera dan menyalakan api pencernaan; ia juga menyucikan, melenyapkan demam dan dahaga, serta mengatasi pengsan, sakit tekak, dan penyakit seumpamanya.

Word by Word

• तिक्तः: bitter
• तिक्तः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रसः: taste
• रसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• छेदनः: cutting; breaking (obstructions)
• छेदनः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छेदन (प्रातिपदिक; √छिद् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावक/कर्तरि-प्रयोगे विशेषण (cutting/piercing)

• स्यात्: would be; is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• रोचनी: appetizing; pleasing
• रोचनी: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोचनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दीपनः: digestive-stimulating
• दीपनः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपन (प्रातिपदिक; √दीप् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (kindling digestive fire)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• शोधनः: purifying
• शोधनः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोधन (प्रातिपदिक; √शुध् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (purifying)

• ज्वरतृष्णाघ्नः: destroying fever and thirst
• ज्वरतृष्णाघ्नः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वर + तृष्णा + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक; √हन् (धातु) + क्विप्/घ्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (ज्वरं तृष्णां च हन्ति इति)

• मूर्छाकण्ठार्तिकादिजित्: overcoming fainting, throat pain, etc.
• मूर्छाकण्ठार्तिकादिजित्: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्छा + कण्ठार्तिका + आदि + जित् (प्रातिपदिक; √जि (धातु) + क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मूर्छां कण्ठार्तिकां च आदीन् जयति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Understanding rasa (taste) and karma (action) of a substance enables right therapeutic action.

Vedantic Theme: Right knowledge guides right action in the empirical realm (vyavahāra) while supporting sattva and clarity.

Application: Use bitter, scraping, digestive-kindling remedies for appropriate conditions (e.g., āma, fever, thirst) with proper dosing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173 (guṇa-kathana: tiktarasa, chedana/lekhana-like action, dīpana, śodhana)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of tikta rasa (bitter taste) in Garuda Purana’s healing context?

The verse summarizes classical actions of bitterness—cleansing, reducing obstructions, and supporting appetite and digestion—showing a rasa-based therapeutic logic.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s post-death path; it focuses on medicinal qualities and disease-relieving actions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a general principle, bitter and cleansing measures are traditionally associated with reducing fever/thirst and improving digestion, but specific treatment should be individualized by competent medical advice.