Shloka 2

Anupāna and the Doṣa-Effects of Foods, Waters, Dairy, Oils, and Preparations

Devanagari script

महाशालि परं वृष्यं कलमः श्लेष्मपित्तहा / शीत्तो गुरुस्त्रिदोषघ्नः प्रायशो गौरषष्टिकः

Transliteration

mahāśāli paraṃ vṛṣyaṃ kalamaḥ śleṣmapittahā / śītto gurustridoṣaghnaḥ prāyaśo gauraṣaṣṭikaḥ

Translation

Mahāśāli（摩诃沙利）米最为滋养强身，增益生命精气；kalama（迦罗摩）品种能减轻痰（kapha）与胆火（pitta）。gaura-ṣaṣṭika（高罗·沙什提迦）米通常性凉、难消（偏重），并能平息三种 doṣa。

Word by Word

• महाशालिः: great rice (mahāśāli variety)
• महाशालिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाशालि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् + शालिः)

• परम्: supremely, very
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वृष्यम् इत्यस्य)

• वृष्यम्: aphrodisiac, virility-promoting
• वृष्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचन; गुणवाचक-विशेषणम्

• कलमः: kalama rice (a rice variety)
• कलमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्लेष्मपित्तहा: destroyer of phlegm and bile
• श्लेष्मपित्तहा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लेष्म + पित्त + हन् (धातु) → ह (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (श्लेष्मपित्तयोः हन्ता); कृदन्तः—हन्-धातोः ‘हा’ (घ्न/हन्-अर्थे)

• शीतः: cooling
• शीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• गुरुः: heavy (to digest)
• गुरुः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• त्रिदोषघ्नः: alleviating the three doṣas
• त्रिदोषघ्नः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + दोष + हन् (धातु) → घ्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (त्रयाणां दोषाणां घ्नः); कृदन्तः—हन्-धातोः ‘घ्न’

• प्रायशः: generally, for the most part
• प्रायशः: Avyaya (Adverbial/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• गौरषष्टिकः: gaura-ṣaṣṭika rice (a pale/white 60-day rice)
• गौरषष्टिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौर + षष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (गौरः षष्टिकः)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āhāra as a means to sustain ojas and maintain doṣa-sāmya (physiological balance).

Vedantic Theme: Sharīra as sādhana-upakaraṇa (instrument for dharma and spiritual pursuit); moderation and right means.

Application: Choose rice varieties by constitution/season: Mahāśāli for strength/ojas; kalama when kapha-pitta are high; gaura-ṣaṣṭika when cooling, heavy nourishment is appropriate, with mindful digestion support.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169 (Āhāra/dravya-guṇa section; surrounding verses on grains and pulses)

Characters & Entities

• Mahāśāli
• Kalama
• Gaura-ṣaṣṭika
• Kapha (Śleṣma)
• Pitta
• Tridoṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of rice varieties in Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies specific rices (mahāśāli, kalama, gaura-ṣaṣṭika) by doṣa-action and digestibility, showing that diet is treated as a dharmic support for health and vitality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by prescribing doṣa-balancing foods, it supports bodily and mental steadiness, which traditional Purāṇic teaching links with clearer conduct (dharma) and readiness for rites and spiritual aims.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose grains according to your constitution and season—cooling/heavier rices when appropriate, and doṣa-balancing options when kapha/pitta symptoms are high—preferably with Ayurvedic guidance.