Shloka 38

Strīroga–Prasūti–Bāla Cikitsā, Viṣa-haraṇa, Rasāyana, Ṛtucaryā, Pañcakarma-saṅgraha

Devanagari script

मृदुकोष्टश्च पित्तेन खरो वातकफाश्रयात् / मध्यमः समदोषे स्यात्त्रिवृत्तिते विरेचनम्

Transliteration

mṛdukoṣṭaśca pittena kharo vātakaphāśrayāt / madhyamaḥ samadoṣe syāttrivṛttite virecanam

Translation

肠性柔软者，乃由毕多（pitta）所致；肠性粗硬者，因伐多（vāta）与迦婆（kapha）之所依持而生。诸多沙（doṣa）调和时，肠道适中；此时当以特里弗里特（trivṛt）行泻下（virecana）。

Word by Word

• मृदु-कोष्ठः: one having a soft bowel/soft constitution
• मृदु-कोष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक) + कोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (descriptive epithet)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पित्तेन: by/with bile (pitta)
• पित्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• खरः: hard/rough (bowel)
• खरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वात-कफ-आश्रयात्: from dependence on vāta and kapha
• वात-कफ-आश्रयात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause/source)

• मध्यमः: moderate/medium
• मध्यमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सम-दोषे: when the doṣas are balanced
• सम-दोषे: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (condition/state)

• स्यात्: should be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रिवृत्तिते: (that which is) with trivṛt (Operculina turpethum)
• त्रिवृत्तिते: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिवृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + इते (कृदन्त-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle sense: ‘treated with/containing trivṛt’)

• विरेचनम्: purgation (therapy)
• विरेचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरेचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deha-dharma: maintaining doṣa-sāmya through appropriate śodhana (purgation) based on constitution.

Vedantic Theme: Body as an instrument (śarīra-sādhana) requiring regulation; sattva through balance and restraint.

Application: Assess koṣṭha (mṛdu/khara/madhyama) and doṣa state; choose virecana appropriately, using trivṛt when doṣas are in a balanced/moderate presentation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.172 (Ayurveda/vaidya-prakaraṇa): koṣṭha-parīkṣā, śodhana-vidhi, virecana/basti sections nearby

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of virecana (purgation) in the Garuda Purana?

The verse frames virecana as a doṣa-sensitive purification method, indicating that cleansing should match constitution and balance rather than be uniformly applied.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing doṣa-balance and disciplined purification, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader ethic that regulated living and bodily order aid spiritual steadiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle of individualized care—assess constitution and balance first—and seek competent Ayurvedic supervision for any purgative regimen.