Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 26

Pāṇḍu-Śotha Nidāna: Doṣa-wise Signs, Complications, and Prognosis

Devanagari script

अतिमात्रं यदासेवेद्गुरुमत्यन्तशीतलम् / लवणक्षारतीक्ष्णाम्लशाकाम्बुस्वप्नजागरम्

Transliteration

atimātraṃ yadāsevedgurumatyantaśītalam / lavaṇakṣāratīkṣṇāmlaśākāmbusvapnajāgaram

Translation

Khi người ta buông thả quá mức trong các món ăn nặng và những thứ quá lạnh; lại dùng nhiều vị mặn, kiềm, cay gắt, chua; ăn nhiều rau lá; uống nước quá độ; và ngủ nghỉ thất thường—ngủ quá nhiều hoặc thức quá lâu—thì những thói quen ấy làm bệnh thêm trầm trọng.

Word by Word

• अतिमात्रम्: excessively
• अतिमात्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘अतिमात्रया/अतिशयेन’

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (Temporal link/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-सम्बन्ध (temporal conjunction)

• आसेवेत्: should consume/indulge in
• आसेवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुरु: heavy (to digest)
• गुरु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (कर्मरूपेण)

• अत्यन्तशीतलम्: extremely cold
• अत्यन्तशीतलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अत्यन्तं शीतलम्)

• लवणक्षारतीक्ष्णाम्लशाकाम्बुस्वप्नजागरम्: salt, alkali, pungent, sour, vegetables, water, sleep and wakefulness (as indulgences)
• लवणक्षारतीक्ष्णाम्लशाकाम्बुस्वप्नजागरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षार (प्रातिपदिक) + तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आम्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + शाक (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक) + जागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (लवणं च क्षारः च … स्वप्नः च जागरः च)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ati-sevana (excess) of guru (heavy), atyanta-śīta (very cold), and rasa extremes (lavaṇa/kṣāra/tīkṣṇa/amla), along with irregular sleep, aggravates disorder.

Vedantic Theme: Sattvic regulation of senses (indriya-nigraha) supports clarity; excess strengthens rajas/tamas and destabilizes the instrument of practice.

Application: Adopt moderation in diet; avoid frequent extremes (very cold, overly salty/sour/pungent/alkaline); regularize sleep-wake cycle; monitor water intake.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.162 (nidāna: āhāra-vihāra causes of śotha/doṣa aggravation)

FAQs

What is the importance of diet control in Garuda Purana’s health teachings?

This verse lists specific food qualities—heavy, very cold, salty, alkaline, pungent, sour—that can aggravate disorders like swelling, emphasizing regulated diet.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

The focus here is bodily discipline rather than the soul’s post-death route; it implies that right living supports dharmic, healthy embodiment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Moderate heavy/cold foods, strong tastes (salt/sour/pungent), excess water intake, and keep sleep-wake cycles steady.