Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

गोक्षीरं वातपित्तग्नं स्निग्धं गुरुरसायनम् / गव्याद्गुरुतरं स्निग्धं माहिष् वह्निनाशनम्

Transliteration

gokṣīraṃ vātapittagnaṃ snigdhaṃ gururasāyanam / gavyādgurutaraṃ snigdhaṃ māhiṣ vahnināśanam

Translation

牛乳能安抚伐多（vāta）与毗多（pitta）；其性润泽（snigdha）、厚重，并具罗萨耶那（rasāyana，滋养回春）之德。水牛乳较牛乳更为厚重润腻，且会减弱阿耆尼（agni，消化之火）。

Word by Word

• गोक्षीरम्: cow’s milk
• गोक्षीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गोः क्षीरम्)

• वातपित्तग्नम्: alleviating vata and pitta
• वातपित्तग्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (वातं पित्तं च हन्ति)

• स्निग्धम्: unctuous
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• गुरु: heavy
• गुरु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• रसायनम्: rejuvenative
• रसायनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रसायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (rejuvenative)

• गव्यात्: than cow(-milk)
• गव्यात्: Apadana (Source/Comparison/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादानम् (ablative: ‘than/from cow-milk’)

• गुरुतरम्: heavier
• गुरुतरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + तरप् (तद्धित/तुलनाप्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• स्निग्धम्: more unctuous
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• माहिषम्: buffalo(-milk)
• माहिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘महिषसम्बन्धि’ (buffalo-milk)

• वह्निनाशनम्: reducing (excess) fire/heat
• वह्निनाशनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वह्नेः नाशनम्; here ‘digestive fire’/burning)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dietary discernment: cow’s milk as balancing and rejuvenative; buffalo milk as heavier and agni-dampening.

Vedantic Theme: Moderation and viveka in consumption preserve the body-mind for sādhana.

Application: Use cow’s milk when vāta/pitta are high and rejuvenation is desired; limit buffalo milk if digestion is weak or heaviness is problematic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral/household dairy context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.169.41 (goat milk qualities); Garuda Purana 1.169.39 (agni and doṣa management via water)

Characters & Entities

• Vata
• Pitta
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of cow’s milk in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents cow’s milk as vāta-pitta pacifying and as a rasāyana (rejuvenative), indicating its valued role in sustaining strength and balanced living.

How does this verse distinguish cow milk and buffalo milk?

Cow milk is described as heavy and unctuous yet rejuvenative, while buffalo milk is said to be even heavier and more unctuous and to reduce agni (digestive fire).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose milk based on digestion: those with low appetite/weak digestion may avoid overly heavy options; prioritize moderation and suitability to one’s constitution (doṣa/agni).