Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their

Qualities and Effects The 10th chapter of Ashtanga Hrudaya Sutrasthana is called as Rasabhediya adhyaya. Rasa means taste and bheda means types. This chapter discusses in detail regarding the types of tastes and their properties.

Tastes – Types and introduction

Origin of taste – Rasa utpatti – मा भो अि न वयो बणैः

मा अ बुतेजः ख वायु अ य नलगो नलैः

मात ् भूतैः मधुरा द रसो वः १

The tastes are formed due to the combination of two Bhutas (primary elements). Madhura (sweet) – Prithvi + Ap (earth + water) Amla (sour) – Tejas + Ap (fire + water) Lavana (salt) – Ap + Tejas (water + fire) Tikta (bitter) – Akasa + Vayu (ether + air) Katu (pungent) – Tejas + Vayu (Fire and air) Kashaya (astringent) – Prithvi + Vayu (earth + air) - 1.

Characteristics of tastes - Rasa Lakshana – Swadu / Madhura (sweet) तेषां व या सं

वादं ु यो व

आ वा यमानो दे ह य

मनु ल प त

लादनो अ

सादनः

यः पपी लकाद नम ् Swadu / Madhura (sweet) is understood by its sticking in the oral cavity, providing a feeling of contentment and pleasure to the body and comfort to the sense organs. It is liked even by ants 2. Amla (sour) अ लः ालयते मुखम ्

हषणो रोमद तानां अ

ुव नकोचनः

Amla (sour) makes the mouth watery, causes horripilation, tingling of the teeth and leads to closing of the eyes and brows. 3.

Lavana (salt) लवणः

य दय या यं कपोलगलदाहकृत ्

Lavana (salt) causes more moisture in the mouth (increase salivation) and burning sensation in the cheeks and throat. 3½. Tikta (bitter) त तो वशदय या यं रसनं

तहि त च

Tikta (bitter) cleanses the mouth and destroys the organs of taste (makes perception of other tastes impossible). 4. Katu (pungent) उ वे जय त िज वा ं कुवाि च म चमां कटुः ावय त अ

नासा यं कपोलौ दहतीव च

Katu (pungent) stimulates the tip of the tongue, causes irritation, brings out secretions from the eyes, nose and mouth and causes burning sensation of the cheeks. 5 Kashaya (astringent) कषायो जडये त ् िज वां क ठ ोतो वब धकृत ् Kashaya (astringent) inactivates the tongue (diminishes capacity of taste perception) and causes obstructions of the passage in the throat. 5½.

Action of tastes - Rasa Karma Sweet taste – Madhura Rasa (taste) मधुरो रसः

आज मसा बालव ृ

त

यात ् कु ते धातून ां ीण वण केश इि

श तो बंह ृ णः क

यः

बलं बलम ्

य ओजसाम ्

त य संधानकृत गु ः

आयु यो जीवनः ि न धः प ता नल वषापहः

Sweet taste being accustomed since birth, produces greater strength in the body tissues. It is very good for children, the aged, the wounded, the emaciated, improves skin complexion, hairs, strength of sense organs and Ojas (essence of the tissues, immunity). Sweet taste causes stoutness of the body, good for the throat, increases breast milk, unites fractured bones.

Sweet taste is not easily digestible, prolongs life, helps life activities; It is unctuous, mitigates Pitta, Vata and Visha (poison). By excess use it produces diseases arising from fat and Kapha, obesity, Asthma, unconsciousness, diabetes, enlargements of glands of the neck, malignant tumour (cancer) and such others. 7-9 Sour and Salt tastes – अ लोअि नद तकृत ् ि न धो उ ण वीय हम

पशः

यः पाचनरोचनः

ीणनः

लेदनो लघुः

करो त कफ प ता ंमूढवातानुलोमनः

Amla (sour) stimulates the Agni – (digestive activity), is unctuous, good for the heart, digestive, appetizer, hot in potency, cold on touch (coolant on external applications, relieves burning sensation), Sour taste satiates, causes moistening, it is easy for digestion, causes aggravation of Kapha, Pitta and Asra (blood) and makes the inactive Vata move downwards. सो अ य य त तनोः कुया शै थ यं त मरं क डु पा डुतव वसप शोफ

व फोट तट ृ

मम ् वरान ्

Sour taste if used in excess, causes looseness of the body, loss of strength, blindness, giddiness, itching (irritation), pallor (whitish yellow discoloration as in anaemia), Visarpa – Herpes, spreading skin disease, swellings, Visphota (small pox), thirst and fevers. 10 – 11½. Salt taste – Lavana rasa : लवणः नेहनः

तंभ सं घात ब ध व मापनो अि नकृत ् वेदनः ती णो रोचन

छे दभेदकृत ्

सो अ तयु तो अ पवनं ख लतं प लतं व लम ् त ृट कु ठ वष वसपान ् जनये

पये

बलम ्

Lavana (salt) relieves rigidity, clears the obstructions of the channels and pores, increases digestive activity, lubricates, causes sweating, penetrates deep into the tissues, improves taste, new growth, abscess etc.). Used in excess, it causes vitiation of Asra (blood) and Vata, causes baldness, graying of hair, wrinkles of the skin, thirst, skin diseases, effect of poison, Visarpa – Herpes, spreading skin disease and decrease of strength of the body. 12 – 13. Bitter, Pungent and Astringent tastes त तः

वयं अरो च णुः अ चं कृ म तट ृ वषम ्

कु ठ मूछा

वरो

लेशदाह प त कफान ् जये त ्

लेद मेदो वसा म जा श ु मू ोपशोषणः

लघुम यो हमो

ः

त यकक ठ वशोधनः

धातु य अ नल याधीन ् अ तयोगा करो त सः

Bitter taste: Tikta by itself is not tasty, but it cures anorexia, worms, thirst, poison, skin diseases, loss of consciousness, fever, nausea, burning sensations; Bitter mitigates Pitta and Kapha, dries up moisture, fat, muscle-fat marrow, faeces and urine; Tikta Rasa is easily digestible, increases intelligence, cold in potency, dry (causes dryness), cleanses breast milk, and throat. Used in excess, it causes depletion of Dhatus (tissues) and diseases of Vata origin. 14 – 16.

Actions of pungent taste – Katu Rasa Karma – कटुः गलामय उदद कु ठ अलसक शोफिजत ् ण अवसादनः

नेहमेदः

द पनः पाचनो

चयः शोधनो अ न य शोषणः

छ ना त ब धान ्

ले दोपशोषणः

ोतां स वव ृणो त कफापहः

कु ते सो अ तयोगेन त ृ णां शु बल यम ्

मू छा आकु चनं क पं क टप ृ ठा दषु यथाम ् Pungent cures diseases of throat, allergic rashes, leprosy and other skin diseases, Alasaka (a kind of indigestion), swelling (odema); reduces the swelling of the ulcers, dries up the unctuousness (greasiness), fat, and moisture (water); Pungent taste increases hunger, it is digestive, improves taste, Shodhana (cleansing, eliminates the Dosas), dries up moisture of the food, breaks up hard masses, dilates (expands) the channels and balances Kapha. By over use, it causes thirst, depletion of Sukra (reproductive element, sperm) and strength, fainting (loss of consciousness) contractures, tremors and pain in the waist, back etc. 17 – 19. Actions of astringent taste – Kashaya Rasa Karma – कषायः प तकफहा गु र

वशोधनः

आमसं त भनो

ोअ त

पीडनो रोपणः शीतः

लेद मेदो वशोषणः

ाह

व

सादनः

Kashaya (astringent) balances Pitta and Kapha, it is not easily digestible; cleanses the blood, causes squeezing and healing of ulcers (wounds), has cold potency, dries up the moisture and fat, hinders the digestion of undigested food. Astringent taste is water absorbent, thereby causing constipation, drynessand cleanses the skin too much.

करो त शी लतः स अ त व टंभा मान तट ृ

का य पौ ष

ु ुजः ोतोरोध मल हान ्

ंश

Used in excess, it causes stasis of food without digestion, flatulence, pain in the heart region, thirst, emaciation, loss of virility, obstruction of the channels and constipation. 20 – 21½.

Madhura Gana – group of sweet substances: घ ृत हे म गुडा ोडमोचचोचप षकम ्

अभी वीरा पनस राजादनबला यम ्

मेदे चत ः प ण योजीव ती जीवक ऋषभौ मधूकं मधुकं ब बी वदार ीर शु ला त ग ु ा ीर

ीरे ुगो ुर ौ

ावणीयुगम ्

ी र यौ का मर सहे

ा ा दमधुरो गणः

Ghrita (ghee, butter fat), Hema (gold), Guda (molasses), Akshoda, Mocha, Chocha, Parushaka, Abhiru, Vira, Panasa, Rajadana, the three Bala (Bala, Atibala and Nagabala), The two Medas – Meda and Mahameda, The four Parni – Shalaparni, Prishnaparni, Mudgaparni, Mashaparni, Jivanti – Leptadenia reticulata, Jivaka – Malaxis acuminata D.Don / Microstylis wallichii Lindl. , Rishabhaka, Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra, Madhuka – Madhuka longifolia, Bimbi – Coccinia grandis / indica, Vidari – Pueraria tuberosa, the two Sravani – Mundi and Sravani, Ksheerasukla, Tugaksiri, the two Ksheerini, Gambhari, the two Saha, milk, sugarcane, Gokshura, Ksaudra, Draksa etc. form the group of sweet substances. 22 – 24.

Amla Gana – group of sour substances: अ लो धा ीफला ल कामातुलु गा लवेतसम ् दा डमं रजतं त ं चु ं पालेवतं द ध

आ मा ातकं भ यं क प थं करमदकम ् Dhatriphala – Amla, Amlika – tamarind, Matulunga,

Amlavetasa – Garcinia pedunculata Roxb. / Rheum emodi Wall., Dadima – Pomegranate – Punica granatum, Rajata (Siver), Buttermilk, Chukra, Palevata, Dadhi – Curds, Mango, Amrataka, Bhavya – Dillenia indica, Kapittha – Feronia limonia / Limonia acidissima, Karamardaka etc. form the sour group. 25 – 26.

Lavana Gana – group of salts:वरं सौवचलं कृ णं बडं सामु मौ

रोमकं पांसुजं शीसं

दम ्

ार च लवणो गणः

Varam (Saindhava – Rock Salt), Sauvarcala (sochal salt), Krishna (black salt) Bida salt, Samudra (table salt), Audbhida, Romaka, Pamshuja, Seesa (lead) and Kshara (Alkalies) form the salt group. 27.

Tikta Gana – group of bitters :त तः पदोल

ाय ती वालकोशीर च दनम ्

भू न ब न ब कटुका तगरा गु व सकम ्

न तमाला

वरजनी मु त मूवाट पकम

पाठापामागकां यायोगुडू चध वयासकम ् प चमल ू ं महा

या यौ वशाल अ त वषावचा

Patoli, Trayanti – Gentiana kurroa, Valaka, Usira – Vetiveria zizanioides, Chandana – Sandalwood, Bhunimba – The creat (whole plant) – Andrographis paniculata, Nimba – Neem – Azadirachta indica, Katuka – Picrorhiza kurroa, Tagara – Indian Valerian (root) – Valeriana wallichi, Aguru, Vatsaka – Holarrhena antidysentirica, Naktamala, Turmeric and tree turmeric, Musta – Nut grass (root) – Cyperus rotundus, Murva, Atarushaka – Adhatoda vasica, Patha – Cyclea peltata, Apamarga - Prickly Chaff Flower – Achyranthes aspera, Kamsya (bronze), Ayas (iron), Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia

Dhanvayasaka, Mahat Pancamula – Bilva, Agnimantha, Shyonaka, Gambhari, Patala the two Vyaghri – Brihati and Kantakari, Visala, Ativisha, Vacha etc. form the group of bitters. 28 – 29½.

Katu Gana – group of pungents:कटुको ह गु म रचकृ मिजत प चकोलकम ् कुठे रा या ह रतकाः प तं मू म

करम ्

Hingu- Asa foetida Maricha – Black pepper, Krimijit – Vidanga, Panchakola – Chitraka, Pippalmoola, Pippali, Chitraka and ginger, leafy vegetables such as Kutheraka and others (mentioned in verse 103 of chapter 6 earlier), Pitta (bile of animals), Mutra (urines), Arushkara etc. form the pungent group. 30 -30½.

Kashaya Varga (Gana) – group of astringents: वगःकषायः प या ं शर षः ख दरो मधु

कद बोद ु बरं मु ता वाला जनगै रकम ् बालं क प थं खजूरं वसप ो पला द च

Group of astringents consists of Pathya – Chebuic Myrobalan (fruit rind) – Terminalia chebula, Aksha – Terminalia bellirica, Shireesa, Khadira – Black catechu (heart wood extract) – Acacia catechu, Madhu (honey), Kadamba, Udumbara, Mukta (Pearls), Pravala (Coral), Anjana – Aqueous extract of Berberis aristata (antimony), Gairika – Purified Red Ochre, Bala kapittha, Kharjura – dates, Bisa – lotus stalk, Padma – Nelumbium speciosum, Utpala – Nymphaea stellata etc 31½ – 32.

General properties of tastes and exceptions:Madhura मधुरं ले मलं

ायो जीणा छा लयवाहते

मु गात ् गोधूम तः

ौ ात ् सताया जा गला मषात ्

Generally, substances of sweet taste increase Kapha except old Shali (more than one year old rice) and Yava – Barley – Hordeum vulgare, Mudga (green gram), Godhuma (wheat), Kshaudra (honey), Sita (sugar) and meat of animals of desert – like lands. Amla ायो अ लं प तजननं दा डमामलकाहते Generally substances of sour taste aggravate Pitta, except Dadima – Pomegranate – Punica granatum and Amalaka (Indian gooseberry). Lavana अप यं लवणं

ायः च ुषःअ य

सै धवात ्

Generally salts are bad for the eyes (vision) except Saindhava – Rock Salt. Tikta and Katu त तं कटु च भू य ठं अ ु यं वातकोपनम ्

ऋते अम ृतापटोल यां शु ठ कृ णा रसोनतः Generally bitters and pungents are non-aphrodisiacs and aggravate (increase) Vata except for Amrita (Indian tinospora), Patoli, Shunthi (ginger), Krishna (long pepper) and Rasona – Garlic – Alium sativum. Kashaya कषायं

ायशः शीतं

त भनं चा यां वना

Astringents are usually cold (in potency) and obstructive – except Abhaya – Chebulic Myrobalan (fruit rind) – Terminalia chebula. 33 – 35½.

Tastes and potency Hot Potency रसाः क व ललवणा वयणो णा यथो तरम ् Katu (pungent), Amla (sour), Lavana (salt) are of hot potency (Ushna Veerya (potency), each one, more so in their succeeding order; Cold Potency त तः कषायो मधुर त वदे व च शीतलाः Similarly Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent) and Madhura (sweet) are cold in potency, each one more in their succeeding order. Ruksha त तः कटुः कषाय च

ा ब मला तथा

Tikta (bitter), Katu (pungent) and Kashaya (astringent) are dry and cause constipation (each one more so in their succeeding order) Snigdha पटु अ लमधुराः ि न धाः स ृ ट व मू मा ताः while Patu (salt), Amla (sour), Madhura (sweet) are unctuous and help elimination of faeces, urine and flatus, each one more so in their succeeding order. Guru पटोः कशाय त मा च मधुरः परमं गु ः Patu (salt), Kashaya (astringent) and Madhura (sweet) are heavy to digest, each one more so in their succeeding order Amla लघुर लः कटु त मात ् त माद प च त तकः While Amla (sour), Katu (pungent) and Tikta (bitter) are easy to digest, each one more so in their succeeding orde 36 – 38½.

Rasa Samyoga Samkhya – number of combination of tastes:संयोगाः स तप चाश क पना त ु

रसानां यौ गक वेन

षि टधा

यथा थल ू ं वभ यते

The combination of tastes will be fifty seven, but their actual counting will be sixty three, on the basis of their usage (in daily routine of selection of drugs, planning of therapies etc.) एकैकह ना तान ् प चदश याि त रस के

वाद ुदशा लः पटु

चत ु केषु दश

वके

ीन ् पटुि त तं एककम ्

वाद ु चतुरो अ लः पटुः सकृ त ्

प चके वे कमेवा लो मधरु ः प च सेवते

यमेकं षडा वादामसंयु ता च ष साः

Eliminating 1 rasa at each combination , the number of combination of 2 rasas each will be 15 In the combination of 3 rasas each , it will be 10 with svadu, 6 with amla, 3 with lavana, 1 with tikta total 20 In the combination of 4 rasas it will be 10 with svadu, 4 with amla, 1 with lavana total 15 In the combination of 5 rasas it will be 1 with amla, 5 with svadu total 6 In the combination of all the 6 rasas it will be one Each rasa individually will be 6 Thus forming 63 combinations in total ष

प चका, ष

मेदाि

च

ुथ साः

का वंश तरे कमेव

यु चतु वकौ प चदश कारौ

यं षडा वाद म त

षि ठ

TO SUM UP The combination of 5 rasas it is 6 1 of six rasa individually  It is 15 of twos  It is 15 of fours  20 of threes  1 of all tastes together  Total = 63 Each taste separately = 6 1. Madhura 2. Amla 3. Lavana 4. Katu 5. Tikta 6. Kashaya Combination of 2 tastes = 15 1. Madhura + amla 2. Madhura + tikta 3. Madhura + lavana 4. Madhura + kashaya 5. Madhura + katu 6. Amla + lavana 7. Amla+ tikta 8. Amla + katu 9. Amla +kashaya 10. Lavana + tikta 11. Lavana + katu 12. Lavana +kashaya 13. Tikta + katu 14. Tikta+ kashaya 15. Katu + kashaya Combination of 3 tastes =20 1. Madhura + amla + lavana 2. Madhura+ amla + tikta 3. Madhura+ amla + katu 4. Madhura + amla + kashaya 5. Madhura+ lavana + tikta 6. Madhura + lavana + katu 7. Madhura+ lavana + kashaya 8. Madhura + tikta + katu 9. Madhura+ tikta + kashaya 10. Madhura + katu + kashaya 11. Amla+ lavana + tikta 12. Amla+ lavana + katu 13. Amla+ lavana +kashaya

14. Amla+ tikta + katu 15. Amla+ tikta + kashaya 16. Amla+ katu + kashaya 17. Lavana+ tikta + katu 18. Lavana+ tikta + kashaya 19. Lavana+ katu + kashaya 20. Tikta+ katu + kashaya

Combination of 4 tastes = 15 1. Madhura + amla + lavana + tikta 2. Madhura+ amla + lavana +katu 3. Madhura+ amla + lavana +kashaya 4. Madhura + amla + tikta+ katu 5. Madhura+ amla + tikta+ kashaya 6. Madhura+ amla + katu + kashaya 7. Madhura+ lavana + tikta + katu 8. Madhura+ lavana + tikta + kashaya 9. Madhura+ lavana+ katu + kashaya 10. Madhura + tikta + katu + kashaya 11. Amla+ lavana + tikta+katu 12. Amla+ lavana + tikta + kashaya 13. Amla+ lavana + katu + kashaya 14 Amla+ tikta + katu + kashaya 15. Lavana + tikta + katu + kashaya

Combination of 5 tastes 1. Madhura + amla + lavana + tikta+ katu 2. Madhura + amla + lavana + tikta+kashaya 3. Madhura + amla + lavana +katu + kashaya 4. Madhura + lavana + tikta+ katu + kashaya 5. Madhura + amla + tikta+ katu + kashaya 6. Amla + lavana + tikta + katu + kashaya

Combination of 6 tastes =1 1. Madhura + Amla + lavana + tikta + katu + kashaya ते रसानुरसतो रसभेदा तारत यप रक पनया च

संभवि त गणनां समतीता दोषमेषजवशाद ुपयो याः These Rasa (primary tastes) and Anurasas (secondary tastes) in their proportional (more, moderate and less) combinations become innumerable. These are to be selected and used after considering the conditions of the Dosas and drugs (and therapies). 44.

Thus ends the chapter entitled Rasabhediya, the tenth in Sutrasthana of Ashtangahurdayam.