Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, 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

Ang kaṭuka (mapait-maanghang) ay nagpapaliyab sa apoy ng pagtunaw (agni) at naglilinis; pinapawi nito ang sakit sa balat, pangangati, at mga karamdaman ng kapha. Inaalis nito ang katabaan, katamaran, at mga bulate, at sinasalungat ang labis na śukra (semilya) at taba. Ngunit kapag ito lamang ang ininom nang labis, maaari itong magdulot ng hilo, hapdi/pagkasunog sa loob, at iba pang kapinsalaan.

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.