Shloka 13

Raktapitta Nidāna and Cikitsā: Causes, Signs, Srotas-Spread, and Śodhana Priority

Devanagari script

कषायश्च हितस्तस्य मधुरा एव केवलम् / कफमारुतसंस्पृष्टमसाध्यमुपनामनम्

Transliteration

kaṣāyaśca hitastasya madhurā eva kevalam / kaphamārutasaṃspṛṣṭamasādhyamupanāmanam

Translation

तस्य कषायो हितः; मधुरा एव केवलं चोपयुज्यते। कफमारुतसंस्पृष्टे तु ‘उपनामन’मसाध्यम्॥

Word by Word

• kaṣāyaḥ: astringent (remedy/taste)
• kaṣāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṣāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम् — ‘astringent (taste/medicine)’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction) — ‘and’

• hitaḥ: beneficial
• hitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् — ‘beneficial’

• tasya: for him/of that (person)
• tasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचनम् — ‘for/of him’

• madhurāḥ: sweet (substances)
• madhurāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् — ‘sweet (things)’

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle) — ‘only/indeed’

• kevalam: merely, alone
• kevalam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial use) — ‘merely/alone’

• kapha-māruta-saṃspṛṣṭam: affected by kapha and vāta
• kapha-māruta-saṃspṛṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kapha (प्रातिपदिक) + māruta (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃ√spṛś (धातु) → saṃspṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) — ‘touched/affected by kapha and vāta’

• asādhyam: incurable
• asādhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asādhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् — ‘incurable’

• upanāmanam: the onset/manifestation
• upanāmanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upanāmana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचनम् — ‘approach/manifestation (of disease)’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Complexity increases severity: when a condition becomes saṃsṛṣṭa (mixed) with multiple doṣas, prognosis worsens; discernment in early management prevents incurability.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) and nidāna-parivarjana (removal of causes) as wisdom applied to embodied life.

Application: Use kaṣāya and appropriate madhura measures for the stated condition; prevent doṣa-mixing by early intervention, diet regulation, and avoiding triggers that aggravate kapha/vāta.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.148 (doṣa-saṃsarga and asādhyatā/prognosis markers)

FAQs

What is the importance of dosha-balance in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames disease prognosis through kapha–vāta involvement: when a condition becomes mixed with these doshas, it can turn difficult or even incurable, highlighting the text’s emphasis on balancing humors via diet and regimen.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it teaches practical bodily maintenance. In the Garuda Purana’s broader instruction, health and disciplined living support dharma and preparedness for life’s transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a caution about complications: address imbalances early and avoid one-size-fits-all remedies; dietary choices (astringent/sweet) should be guided by the condition and by whether kapha/vāta symptoms are present.