Shloka 19

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

शालिषष्टिकदुग्धाशी हयो हिन जुगुप्सितः / पक्वजम्बूनिभो हेमवर्णो ऽश्वो न जुगुप्सितः

Transliteration

śāliṣaṣṭikadugdhāśī hayo hina jugupsitaḥ / pakvajambūnibho hemavarṇo 'śvo na jugupsitaḥ

Translation

శాలి, షష్టిక బియ్యం మరియు పాలు మాత్రమే తినే గుర్రం హీనమై, దూరం పెట్టదగినదని చెప్పబడింది. కానీ పండిన జంబూ ఫలంలా, స్వర్ణవర్ణంగా మెరుస్తున్న అశ్వం నిందనీయం కాదు.

Word by Word

• शालि: śāli rice
• शालि: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपे; समास-पूर्वपदम् (rice)

• षष्टिक: ṣaṣṭika (quick-growing)
• षष्टिक: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपे; समास-पूर्वपदम् (sixty-day variety)

• दुग्ध: milk
• दुग्ध: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपे; समास-पूर्वपदम् (milk)

• आशी: eating śāli-ṣaṣṭika with milk
• आशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश् (धातु) + णिनि (कृत्) → आशिन्/आशी (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-भावे ‘(तत्) आशी’ = ‘eater of’; अत्र समासः: शालि-षष्टिक-दुग्ध-आशी

• हयः: horse
• हयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हीनः: deficient / lacking (such diet)
• हीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from हा/ही)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (deficient/without)

• जुगुप्सितः: despised / undesirable
• जुगुप्सितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप् (धातु) + सन् (desiderative) → जुगुप्स (धातु) + क्त → जुगुप्सित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययः (despised)

• पक्व: ripe
• पक्व: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्व (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from पच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपे; समास-पूर्वपदम् (ripe)

• जम्बू: jambu fruit
• जम्बू: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपे; समास-पूर्वपदम् (jambu fruit)

• निभः: resembling
• निभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (resembling)

• हेम: gold
• हेम: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रातिपदिक-रूपे; समास-पूर्वपदम् (gold)

• वर्णः: golden-colored
• वर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: हेम-वर्णः (golden-colored)

• अश्वः: horse
• अश्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः

• जुगुप्सितः: despised
• जुगुप्सितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप् (धातु) + सन् → जुगुप्स + क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Choose suitable animals by diet/traits and auspicious coloration; avoid what is deemed unfit.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti-lakṣaṇa (observable qualities) guide right action; discernment (viveka) in worldly duties.

Application: In selecting/keeping horses, avoid those considered ‘juguptsita’ by stated feeding trait; prefer auspicious, strong coloration likened to ripe jambu and golden hue.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: practical sections on animal marks/selection and household/royal utilities

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious signs (śakuna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that external traits and prescribed indicators are used to judge suitability and avoid inauspicious choices, aligning actions with dharma and favorable outcomes.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s practical guidance beyond afterlife teachings?

Alongside death and post-death instruction, the text also preserves traditional decision-rules (lakṣaṇa/śakuna) for selecting beings or objects considered ritually and socially appropriate.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to make careful, values-based selections—prefer what is considered wholesome and suitable in one’s tradition, and avoid choices viewed as harmful or improper.