The Six Tastes and the Properties of Unctuous Substances

Verse 1 (garuda.1.173.1)

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् १७३ धन्वन्तरिरुवाच । द्रव्याणि मधुरादीनि वक्ष्ये रागहराण्यहम् । शालिषष्टिकगोधृमक्षीरं घृतं रसा मध

śrīgaruḍamahāpurāṇam 173 dhanvantariruvāca dravyāṇi madhurādīni vakṣye rāgaharāṇyaham śāliṣaṣṭikagodhṛmakṣīraṁ ghṛtaṁ rasā madha

Dhanvantari said: I shall now describe the substances of sweet and other tastes, which pacify disorders of the humours. Shali and shashtika rice, wheat, milk, ghee, sugarcane juice, honey —

Verse 2 (garuda.1.173.2)

मज्जाशृङ्गाटकयवकशेर्विवारुगीक्षुरम् । गम्भगी पौष्करं बीजं द्राक्षा खर्जूरकं बला

majjāśṛṅgāṭakayavakaśervivārugīkṣuram gambhagī pauṣkaraṁ bījaṁ drākṣā kharjūrakaṁ balā

— marrow, water-chestnut, barley, yavaka, sherivaru, ikshura, gambhari, lotus-seed, grapes, dates, bala —

Verse 3 (garuda.1.173.3)

नारिकलेक्ष्वात्मणुप्ता विदारी च प्रियालकम् । मधुकं तालकष्माण्डं मुख्योऽयं मधुरो गणः

nārikalekṣvātmaṇuptā vidārī ca priyālakam madhukaṁ tālakaṣmāṇḍaṁ mukhyo'yaṁ madhuro gaṇaḥ

— coconut, sugarcane-shoot, vidari, priyala, licorice, palm, and kushmanda — this is the principal group of sweet substances.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.173.4)

मूर्छादाहप्रशमनः पडिन्द्रियप्रसादनः । कृमिकृत्कफकृच्चैव एकोऽत्यर्थ निपेवितः

mūrchādāhapraśamanaḥ paḍindriyaprasādanaḥ kṛmikṛtkaphakṛccaiva eko'tyartha nipevitaḥ

It pacifies fainting and burning, and gladdens all six senses; but taken alone in excess, it produces worms and kapha.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.173.5)

श्वासकासाम्यमाधुर्यस्वरघातार्वुदानि च । गलगण्डश्लीपदानि गुडलेपादि कारयेत्

śvāsakāsāmyamādhuryasvaraghātārvudāni ca galagaṇḍaślīpadāni guḍalepādi kārayet

It may also produce breathlessness, cough, excessive sweetness, loss of voice, and tumours; in goitre and elephantiasis, a paste of jaggery and the like should be applied.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.173.6)

दाडिमामलकाम्रं च कपित्थकरमर्दकौ । मातुलुङ्गाम्रातकं च बदरं तिन्तडीफलम्

dāḍimāmalakāmraṁ ca kapitthakaramardakau mātuluṅgāmrātakaṁ ca badaraṁ tintaḍīphalam

Pomegranate, amalaki, mango, kapittha, karamarda, citron, amratak, jujube, and tamarind fruit,

Verse 7 (garuda.1.173.7)

दधि तक्रं काञ्जिकं च लकुचं चाम्लवे तसम् । अम्लो लोणः शुण्ठीयुक्तो जारणः पाचनो रसः

dadhi takraṁ kāñjikaṁ ca lakucaṁ cāmlave tasam amlo loṇaḥ śuṇṭhīyukto jāraṇaḥ pācano rasaḥ

curd, buttermilk, fermented rice-water, lakucha, and sour vine — this constitutes the sour group. Combined with dry ginger, it becomes digestive and appetizing.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.173.8)

क्लेदनो वातकृद्धृप्यो विदाही चानुलोमनः । अम्लोऽत्यर्थं सेव्यमानः कुर्याद्धै दन्तहर्षकम्

kledano vātakṛddhṛpyo vidāhī cānulomanaḥ amlo'tyarthaṁ sevyamānaḥ kuryāddhai dantaharṣakam

It moistens, regulates the wind, is satisfying, causes burning, and promotes downward movement of the bowels. Sour taste, taken to excess, causes the teeth to become sensitive,

Verse 9 (garuda.1.173.9)

शरीरस्य च शैतिल्यं स्वरकण्ठास्यहृद्दहेत् । छिन्नभिन्नव्रणादीनि पाचयित्वाग्निभावितः

śarīrasya ca śaitilyaṁ svarakaṇṭhāsyahṛddahet chinnabhinnavraṇādīni pācayitvāgnibhāvitaḥ

produces looseness in the body, and can cause burning in the voice, throat, mouth, and heart. Infused with digestive fire, it matures cut and torn wounds.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.173.10)

लवणानि यवक्षारसर्जिकादिश्च लावणः । शोधनः पाचनः क्लेदी विश्लेषसर्पणादिकृत्

lavaṇāni yavakṣārasarjikādiśca lāvaṇaḥ śodhanaḥ pācanaḥ kledī viśleṣasarpaṇādikṛt

Barley-alkali, sarjika, and the other salts constitute the salty group. It purifies, aids digestion, moistens, and causes dissolution and spreading.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.173.11)

मार्गरोधी मार्दवकृत्स एकः परिषेवितः । गात्रकण्डूकोष्ठशोथवैवर्ण्यं जनयेद्रसः । रक्तवातं पित्तरक्तं पुंस्त्वेन्द्रियरुजादिकम्

mārgarodhī mārdavakṛtsa ekaḥ pariṣevitaḥ gātrakaṇḍūkoṣṭhaśothavaivarṇyaṁ janayedrasaḥ raktavātaṁ pittaraktaṁ puṁstvendriyarujādikam

It obstructs the channels and produces softness; taken alone in excess, it produces itching of the body, swelling of the bowel-cavity, and discoloration, and may cause vata-blood disorders, pitta-blood disorders, and pain in the organs of virility.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.173.12)

व्योषशिग्रूमूलकं देवदारु च कुष्ठकम् । लशुनं वल्गुजी फलं मुस्तागुग्गुलुलाङ्गली

vyoṣaśigrūmūlakaṁ devadāru ca kuṣṭhakam laśunaṁ valgujī phalaṁ mustāguggululāṅgalī

The three pungents, shigru, radish, devadaru, kushtha, garlic, valguja fruit, musta, guggulu, and langali —

Verse 13 (garuda.1.173.13)

कटुको दीपनः शोधी कुष्ठकण्डूकफान्तकृत् । स्थौल्यालस्यक्रिमिहरः शुक्रमेदोविरोधनः । एकोऽत्यर्थं सेव्यमानः भ्रमदाहादिकृद्भवेत्

kaṭuko dīpanaḥ śodhī kuṣṭhakaṇḍūkaphāntakṛt sthaulyālasyakrimiharaḥ śukramedovirodhanaḥ eko'tyarthaṁ sevyamānaḥ bhramadāhādikṛdbhavet

— this constitutes the pungent group, which kindles the digestive fire, purifies, and puts an end to kushtha, itching, and kapha; it removes obesity, lassitude, and worms, and regulates semen and fat. Taken alone in excess, it produces giddiness, burning, and the like.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.173.14)

कृतमालः कीराणि हरिद्रेन्द्रयवास्तथा । स्वादुकण्टकवेत्राणि बृहतीद्वयशङ्खिनी

kṛtamālaḥ kīrāṇi haridrendrayavāstathā svādukaṇṭakavetrāṇi bṛhatīdvayaśaṅkhinī

Kritamala, kira, turmeric, indrayava, svadukantaka, cane, both brihatis, and shankhini —

Verse 15 (garuda.1.173.15)

गुडूची चद्रवन्ती च त्रिवृन्मण्डूकपर्ण्यपि । कारवेल्लकवार्ताकुकरवीरकवासकाः

guḍūcī cadravantī ca trivṛnmaṇḍūkaparṇyapi kāravellakavārtākukaravīrakavāsakāḥ

— guduchi, dravanti, trivrit, mandukaparni, karavellaka, brinjal, karavira, and vasa —

Verse 16 (garuda.1.173.16)

रोहिणी शङ्खचूर्णं च कर्कोटो वै जयन्तिका । जातीवारुणकं निम्बो ज्योतिष्मती पुनर्नवा

rohiṇī śaṅkhacūrṇaṁ ca karkoṭo vai jayantikā jātīvāruṇakaṁ nimbo jyotiṣmatī punarnavā

— rohini, conch-shell powder, karkota, jayantika, jati, varunaka, neem, jyotishmati, and punarnava —

Verse 17 (garuda.1.173.17)

तिक्तो रसश्छेदनः स्याद्रोचनी दीपनस्तथा । शोधनो ज्वरतृष्णाघ्नो मूर्छाकण्ठार्तिकादिजित्

tikto rasaśchedanaḥ syādrocanī dīpanastathā śodhano jvaratṛṣṇāghno mūrchākaṇṭhārtikādijit

— this constitutes the bitter group, which is incisive, appetite-promoting, digestive, purifying, and destroys fever and thirst, and removes fainting, throat-pain, and the like.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.173.18)

विण्मूत्रक्लेदसंशोषो ह्यत्यर्थं स च सेवितः । हनुस्तम्भाक्षेपकार्तिशिरः शूलब्रणादिकृत्

viṇmūtrakledasaṁśoṣo hyatyarthaṁ sa ca sevitaḥ hanustambhākṣepakārtiśiraḥ śūlabraṇādikṛt

It dries up stool, urine, and moisture excessively; taken to excess, it produces lockjaw, convulsion, pain, headache, colic, wounds, and the like.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.173.19)

त्रिफलासल्लकीजम्बु आम्रातकवचादिकम् । तिन्दुकं वकुलं शालं पालङ्कीमुद्गचिल्लकम्

triphalāsallakījambu āmrātakavacādikam tindukaṁ vakulaṁ śālaṁ pālaṅkīmudgacillakam

Triphala, sallaki, jambu, amratak-vacha and the like, tinduka, bakula, sala, palanki, mudga, and chillaka —

Verse 20 (garuda.1.173.20)

कषायो ग्राहको रोपी स्तम्भनक्लेदशोषणः । एकोऽत्यर्थं सेव्यमानो हृदये चाथ पीडकः । मुखशोषज्वराध्मानमन्यास्तम्भादिकारकः

kaṣāyo grāhako ropī stambhanakledaśoṣaṇaḥ eko'tyarthaṁ sevyamāno hṛdaye cātha pīḍakaḥ mukhaśoṣajvarādhmānamanyāstambhādikārakaḥ

— this constitutes the astringent group, which binds, heals wounds, checks discharge, and dries moisture. Taken alone in excess, it distresses the heart and produces dryness of the mouth, fever, distension, and stiffness of the limbs.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.173.21)

हरिद्राकुष्ठलवणं मेषशृङ्गिबलाद्वयम् । कच्छुरा सल्लकी पाठा पुनर्नवा शतावरी

haridrākuṣṭhalavaṇaṁ meṣaśṛṅgibalādvayam kacchurā sallakī pāṭhā punarnavā śatāvarī

Turmeric, kushtha, salt, meshashringi, both balas, kachura, sallaki, patha, punarnava, and shatavari —

Verse 22 (garuda.1.173.22)

अग्नि मन्थो ब्रह्मदण्डी श्वदंष्ट्रैरण्डके तथा । यवकोलकुलत्थादिकर्षाशी दशमूलकम् । पृथक्समस्तो वातातोर्बहुपित्तहरस्तथा

agni mantho brahmadaṇḍī śvadaṁṣṭrairaṇḍake tathā yavakolakulatthādikarṣāśī daśamūlakam pṛthaksamasto vātātorbahupittaharastathā

— agnimantha, brahmadandi, gokshura, castor, and barley, jujube, and horse-gram, one karsha each, together with dashamula — these, singly or combined, greatly destroy vata and much pitta.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.173.23)

शतावरी विदारी च बालकोशीरचन्दनम् । दूर्वा वटः पिप्पली च बदरी सल्लकी तथा

śatāvarī vidārī ca bālakośīracandanam dūrvā vaṭaḥ pippalī ca badarī sallakī tathā

Shatavari, vidari, bala, khus, sandalwood, durva grass, the banyan tree, pippali, badari, and sallaki —

Verse 24 (garuda.1.173.24)

कदली चोत्पलं पद्ममुदुम्बरपटोलकन् । अथ श्लेष्महरो वर्गो हरिद्रागुडकुष्ठकम्

kadalī cotpalaṁ padmamudumbarapaṭolakan atha śleṣmaharo vargo haridrāguḍakuṣṭhakam

— banana, blue lotus, lotus, gular fig, and patola. Now begins the group that destroys kapha: turmeric, jaggery, kushtha —

Verse 25 (garuda.1.173.25)

शतपुष्पी च जाती च व्योषारग्वधलाङ्गली । सर्पिस्तैलवसामज्जाः स्नेहेषु प्रवरं स्मृतम्

śatapuṣpī ca jātī ca vyoṣāragvadhalāṅgalī sarpistailavasāmajjāḥ sneheṣu pravaraṁ smṛtam

— shatapushpi, jati, the three pungents, aragvadha, and langali. Among unctuous substances — ghee, oil, muscle-fat, and marrow — ghee is held to be the finest,

Verse 26 (garuda.1.173.26)

तथा धीस्मृतिमेधाग्निकाङ्क्षिणां शस्यते घृतम् । केवलं पैत्तिके सर्पिर्वातिके लवणान्वितम्

tathā dhīsmṛtimedhāgnikāṅkṣiṇāṁ śasyate ghṛtam kevalaṁ paittike sarpirvātike lavaṇānvitam

and ghee is likewise recommended for those desiring intellect, memory, wisdom, and digestive fire. In pitta disorders, ghee alone should be given; in vata disorders, ghee combined with salt.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.173.27)

देयं बहुकफे वापि व्योषक्षारसमायुतम् । ग्रन्थिनाडीकृमिस्लेष्ममेदोमारुतरोगिषु

deyaṁ bahukaphe vāpi vyoṣakṣārasamāyutam granthināḍīkṛmisleṣmamedomārutarogiṣu

In excess kapha, it should be given combined with the three pungents and alkali; for glandular swellings, fistulous wounds, worms, kapha, fat-disorders, and wind-diseases, oil should be used.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.173.28)

तैलं लाघवदार्ढ्याय क्रूरकोष्ठेषु देहिषु । वातातपाम्बुभारस्त्रीव्यायामक्षीणधातुषु

tailaṁ lāghavadārḍhyāya krūrakoṣṭheṣu dehiṣu vātātapāmbubhārastrīvyāyāmakṣīṇadhātuṣu

For lightness and firmness, oil is prescribed for those with a hard, costive constitution, and for those whose tissues are depleted by exposure to wind, sun, and water, carrying loads, sexual activity, and exercise.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.173.29)

रूक्षक्लेशक्षयात्याग्निवाता वृतपथेषु । अथ दग्ध्वा शिराजालं योनिकर्म शिरोरुजि (जम् )

rūkṣakleśakṣayātyāgnivātā vṛtapatheṣu atha dagdhvā śirājālaṁ yonikarma śiroruji (jam )

— and also for those depleted by dryness, distress, wasting, excessive digestive fire, and wind, where the channels are unobstructed. Now, in headache, after cauterizing the network of veins, the nasal treatment should be performed.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.173.30)

उत्तमस्य पलं मात्रा त्रिभिश्चाक्षैश्च मध्यमे । जघन्यस्य पलार्धेन स्नेहक्वाथौषधेषु च

uttamasya palaṁ mātrā tribhiścākṣaiśca madhyame jaghanyasya palārdhena snehakvāthauṣadheṣu ca

The highest dose is one pala, the medium three aksha, and the lowest half a pala — this is the measure prescribed for oils, decoctions, and medicines.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.173.31)

जलमुष्णं घृते देयं पृथक्तैले तु शस्यते । सेनेहे पित्ते तु तृष्णायां पिबेदुष्णोदकं नरः

jalamuṣṇaṁ ghṛte deyaṁ pṛthaktaile tu śasyate senehe pitte tu tṛṣṇāyāṁ pibeduṣṇodakaṁ naraḥ

Warm water should be given as an accompanying drink with ghee; a separate method is prescribed for oil. After oleation therapy, in thirst caused by pitta, one should drink warm water.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.173.32)

वातानुलोमं दीप्ताग्रर्वर्चः स्निग्धस्य तन्मतम् । रूक्षम्य स्नेदृनं कार्यमभिस्निग्धस्य रूक्षणम्

vātānulomaṁ dīptāgrarvarcaḥ snigdhasya tanmatam rūkṣamya snedṛnaṁ kāryamabhisnigdhasya rūkṣaṇam

This is deemed suitable for the unctuous constitution when vata moves properly downward, the digestive fire is kindled, and the stool is normal; the dry person should receive oleation, while the excessively unctuous should receive a drying regimen.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.173.33)

श्यामाककोरदोषान्नतक्रपिण्याकसकुभिः । वातश्लेष्माणि वाते वा कफे वा स्वेद इष्यते । न स्वेदयेदतिम्थूलरूक्षदुर्वलमूर्छितान्

śyāmākakoradoṣānnatakrapiṇyākasakubhiḥ vātaśleṣmāṇi vāte vā kaphe vā sveda iṣyate na svedayedatimthūlarūkṣadurvalamūrchitān

With shyamaka and koradusha grain, buttermilk, oil-cake, and roasted-grain flour, fomentation is recommended in vata or kapha disorders. One should not apply fomentation to those who are excessively obese, dry, weak, or prone to fainting.