Shloka 16

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

कटुक्षारञ्च तीक्ष्णञ्च त्याज्यमुष्णञ्च दूरतः / तत्क्षेत्रमोषधीपात्रं बीजञ्चाप्यमृतायितम्

Transliteration

kaṭukṣārañca tīkṣṇañca tyājyamuṣṇañca dūrataḥ / tatkṣetramoṣadhīpātraṃ bījañcāpyamṛtāyitam

Translation

కారం, క్షారం, అతితీక్ష్ణమైన పదార్థాలను వదలాలి; వేడి ఆహారాన్ని కూడా దూరంగా ఉంచాలి. అప్పుడు దేహక్షేత్రం ఔషధాలకు పాత్రమవుతుంది, బీజమూ అమృతసమంగా మారుతుంది.

Word by Word

• kaṭu-kṣāram: pungent alkali / caustic (food)
• kaṭu-kṣāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṭu (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कटुं क्षारम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• tīkṣṇam: sharp / harsh
• tīkṣṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (कटुक्षारम् इत्यादीनि) विशेषण/समुच्चितपदम्

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• tyājyam: should be avoided
• tyājyam: Kriyā-artha (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive; ‘to be abandoned’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• uṣṇam: hot (things)
• uṣṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; त्याज्यम् इत्यस्य विषयः

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• dūrataḥ: completely / from a distance
• dūrataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dūratas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘from afar/entirely’)

• tat-kṣetram: that field (womb)
• tat-kṣetram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तत् क्षेत्रम् = that field/womb)

• oṣadhī-pātram: a vessel for medicine / fit for herbs
• oṣadhī-pātram: Kriyā-artha (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṣadhī (प्रातिपदिक) + pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ओषध्याः पात्रम् / ओषधीनां पात्रम्)

• bījam: seed
• bījam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात—अपि (also/even)

• amṛtāyitam: made nectar-like / wholesome
• amṛtāyitam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + √i (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—णिच्/आयि-प्रत्ययान्त भावितकर्मणि (amṛta-āyita ‘made like nectar’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (bījam)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Self-regulation (niyama) in diet to refine the bodily field for healthy conception and vitality.

Vedantic Theme: Body as instrument (sādhana) requiring sattvic maintenance; transformation through disciplined causes.

Application: Avoid overly pungent/alkaline/irritant and excessively hot foods; adopt a gentler diet to support reproductive health and overall vitality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.15 (sweet nourishing foods); Garuda Purana 2.32.17 (cooling regimen; ‘right fruit’)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dietary restraint in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links food choices with inner purity: avoiding harsh, overly heating substances makes the body a fit “field” and “vessel,” supporting healing, vitality, and readiness for dharmic living and ritual discipline.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader concern with death rituals and the afterlife?

In the Preta Kanda, purity and disciplined living are treated as supports for dharma; such preparation is understood to strengthen one’s vitality and steadiness, which in turn aligns a person for proper rites and a more orderly passage through post-death transitions described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Moderate very pungent, caustic, and overly spicy/heating foods; choose a balanced diet that supports clarity and health, especially when observing vows, fasting routines, or preparing for sacred observances.