Shloka 15

Cikitsā-sāra: Doṣa Nidāna–Lakṣaṇa, Agni, Ajīrṇa/Āma Cikitsā, Daśamūla, and Prognostic Signs

Devanagari script

वसासृङ्मांसमेदो ऽस्थिमज्जाशुक्राणि धातवः / वातपित्तकफा दोषा विण्मूत्राद्या मलाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

vasāsṛṅmāṃsamedo 'sthimajjāśukrāṇi dhātavaḥ / vātapittakaphā doṣā viṇmūtrādyā malāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

ବସା, ଅସୃକ୍ (ରକ୍ତ), ମାଂସ, ମେଦ, ଅସ୍ଥି, ମଜ୍ଜା, ଶୁକ୍ର—ଏହିସବୁ ଧାତୁ। ବାତ‑ପିତ୍ତ‑କଫ ଦୋଷ; ଏବଂ ବିଣ୍, ମୂତ୍ର ଆଦି ମଳ ବୋଲି ସ୍ମୃତ।

Word by Word

• vasā: fat (marrow-fat)
• vasā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine, nominative singular; member of list)

• asṛk: blood
• asṛk: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asṛj/asṛk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular; ‘blood’)

• māṃsa: flesh
• māṃsa: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular)

• medaḥ: adipose tissue, fat
• medaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular)

• asthi: bone
• asthi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular)

• majjā: marrow
• majjā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: majjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine, nominative singular)

• śukrāṇi: semen/reproductive fluid
• śukrāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (neuter, nominative plural)

• dhātavaḥ: (these are) the tissues (dhātus)
• dhātavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masculine, nominative plural)

• vāta: vāta (wind principle)
• vāta: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular; member of list)

• pitta: pitta (bile principle)
• pitta: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular; member of list)

• kaphaḥ: kapha (phlegm principle)
• kaphaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative singular; member of list)

• doṣāḥ: (these are) the doṣas
• doṣāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masculine, nominative plural)

• viṭ: feces
• viṭ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular; member of list)

• mūtra: urine
• mūtra: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (neuter, nominative singular; member of list)

• ādyāḥ: etc., beginning with
• ādyāḥ: Karta (Subject-Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (masculine, nominative plural; ‘beginning with…’, qualifying malāḥ)

• malāḥ: wastes, impurities
• malāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masculine, nominative plural)

• smṛtāḥ: are said/considered
• smṛtāḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (masculine nominative plural; ‘are considered’)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tripartite framework: dhātus (supporting tissues), doṣas (regulatory humors), and malas (wastes) constitute bodily functioning.

Vedantic Theme: Name-and-form (nāma-rūpa) classification as a step toward mastery of the instrument (body) used for higher aims.

Application: Use the dhātu-doṣa-mala triad to interpret symptoms (e.g., tissue depletion vs doṣa aggravation vs waste obstruction) and choose appropriate interventions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168.14 (equilibrium principle); Garuda Purana 1.168.12-13 (doṣa-based symptom and mixed disorders); Garuda Purana 1.168.16 (qualities of vāta/pitta)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dhātu–doṣa–mala classification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the body as a structured system—constituents (dhātus), regulatory humors (doṣas), and wastes (malas)—supporting disciplined living and understanding disease and imbalance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By distinguishing bodily components from governing forces, it implicitly separates the perishable body from the enduring self, preparing the listener for Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on death, detachment, and post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe health and conduct through balance: nourish tissues, manage vāta–pitta–kapha tendencies, and maintain cleanliness—supporting clarity for dharma and spiritual practice.