Shloka 37

Anupāna and the Doṣa-Effects of Foods, Waters, Dairy, Oils, and Preparations

Devanagari script

रौच्यमग्निकरं रूक्षं कफघ्नंलघु नैर्झरम् / दीपनं पित्तलं कौपमौद्भिदं पित्तनाशनम्

Transliteration

raucyamagnikaraṃ rūkṣaṃ kaphaghnaṃlaghu nairjharam / dīpanaṃ pittalaṃ kaupamaudbhidaṃ pittanāśanam

Translation

नैर्झरं जलं रुच्यं दीपनमग्निकरं रूक्षं कफघ्नं लघु च। कूपोदकं दीपनं पित्तलं भवति; औद्भिदं जलं पित्तनाशनमिति कथ्यते।

Word by Word

• रौच्यम्: pleasant/tasty, agreeable
• रौच्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular; adjective)

• अग्निकरम्: kindling digestion (fire-producing)
• अग्निकरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अग्नेः करः = producing digestive fire)

• रूक्षम्: dry
• रूक्षम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कफघ्नम्: destroying kapha
• कफघ्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कफं हन्ति)

• लघु: light (easy to digest)
• लघु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• नैर्झरम्: from a spring/stream
• नैर्झरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैर्झर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (spring/stream-origin)

• दीपनम्: appetizing, kindling digestion
• दीपनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (appetizing/digestive-stimulating)

• पित्तलम्: increasing pitta
• पित्तलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (pitta-increasing)

• कौपम्: from a well
• कौपम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (well-water related)

• औद्भिदम्: earth-born/subterranean
• औद्भिदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औद्भिद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (arising from the earth; subterranean)

• पित्तनाशनम्: destroying pitta
• पित्तनाशनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पित्तस्य नाशनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha/Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right choice of water according to its source and its effect on agni and doṣas.

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as an instrument for dharma-sādhana; maintaining sattvic equilibrium supports higher pursuits.

Application: Choose spring-water for lightness and kapha reduction; use well-water cautiously if pitta is high; prefer natural upwelling water when pitta aggravation is present.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169.38-41 (continuation of dravya-guṇa: water and milk qualities)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of spring-water (nairjhara) in Garuda Purana?

The verse praises spring-water as light and kapha-reducing while strengthening digestive fire, indicating its suitability for sluggish digestion and heaviness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It focuses on bodily and dietary regulation rather than afterlife geography; in the Purana’s broader frame, such regulation supports sattva, purity, and readiness for rites that affect post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Match water type to symptoms: use lighter, cleaner sources when kapha is high; if prone to heat/acidity (pitta), avoid overly heating waters and prefer cooling, non-irritating sources—always ensuring safety and potability.