Verse 17.9
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः | आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः ||९||
Transliteration (IAST)
kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣṇa-tīkṣṇa-rūkṣa-vidāhinaḥ | āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkha-śokāmaya-pradāḥ ||9||
Word-by-Word Meanings
kaṭu-bitter
amla-sour
lavaṇa-salty
ati-uṣṇa-very hot
tīkṣṇa-pungent/sharp
rūkṣa-dry
vidāhinaḥ-burning
duḥkha-śoka-āmaya-pradāḥ-causing pain, grief, and disease
Translation
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry, and burning - such foods are preferred by the rajasic and cause pain, grief, and disease.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that rajasic foods overstimulate the senses and create restlessness in the mind. They produce immediate pleasure but lead to suffering. Madhva notes that the excess (ati) is the key qualifier - moderate use of spices is not condemned, but excess that disturbs bodily equilibrium is rajasic.
Themes
dharmakarma