Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

कटुको दीपनः शोधी कुष्ठकण्डूकफान्तकृत् / स्थौल्यालस्यक्रिमिहरः शुक्रमेदोविरोधनः / एको ऽत्यर्थं सेव्यमानः भ्रमदाहादिकृद्भवेत्

Transliteration

kaṭuko dīpanaḥ śodhī kuṣṭhakaṇḍūkaphāntakṛt / sthaulyālasyakrimiharaḥ śukramedovirodhanaḥ / eko 'tyarthaṃ sevyamānaḥ bhramadāhādikṛdbhavet

Translation

कटुको रसः दीपनः शोधनश्च, कुष्ठकण्डूकफान्तकृत्; स्थौल्यालस्यक्रिमिहरः, शुक्रमेदोविरोधनः; स एकोऽत्यर्थं सेव्यमानो भ्रमदाहादिकृद्भवेत्।

Word by Word

• कटुकः: pungent
• कटुकः: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दीपनः: kindling (appetite/digestion)
• दीपनः: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शोधी: cleansing; purifying
• शोधी: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण; -इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• कुष्ठकण्डूकफान्तकृत्: ending leprosy/skin disease, itching, and kapha
• कुष्ठकण्डूकफान्तकृत्: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुष्ठ + कण्डू + कफ + अन्त + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—कुष्ठं कण्डूं कफं च अन्तं करोति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष; समाहारार्थ)

• स्थौल्यालस्यक्रिमिहरः: removing obesity, lethargy, and worms
• स्थौल्यालस्यक्रिमिहरः: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थौल्य + आलस्य + क्रिमि + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—स्थौल्यं आलस्यं क्रिमींश्च हरति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• शुक्रमेदोविरोधनः: obstructing semen and fat
• शुक्रमेदोविरोधनः: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्र + मेदस् + विरोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—शुक्रं मेदश्च विरुणद्धि/विरोधयति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• एकः: alone; by itself
• एकः: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अत्यर्थम्: excessively; too much
• अत्यर्थम्: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• सेव्यमानः: being used/consumed
• सेव्यमानः: Condition (अवस्था)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेव्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle)

• भ्रमदाहादिकृत्: causing dizziness, burning, etc.
• भ्रमदाहादिकृत्: Predicate/Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम + दाह + आदि + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—भ्रमं दाहं च तेषाम् आदि, तद् करोति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• भवेत्: would become; may occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right measure (mātrā) and proper combination (yoga) determine whether a substance heals or harms.

Vedantic Theme: Madhyama-mārga (moderation) and viveka (discernment) in bodily practices to support higher pursuits.

Application: Use pungent/kaṭu substances to kindle agni and reduce kapha/krimi, but avoid excessive solitary use to prevent burning and dizziness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173 (kaṭu-rasa guṇa: dīpana, śodhana; harms of ati-sevana)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Kaṭuka in the Garuda Purana?

The verse highlights Kaṭuka as a deepana-śodhana drug—useful for kapha-related ailments, itching/skin issues, obesity, and parasites—while also warning against overdose.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe afterlife geography; it teaches disciplined use of remedies, aligning bodily regulation with dharmic restraint (niyama).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as an early safety note: even beneficial herbs can cause adverse effects if taken excessively or without proper combination and supervision.