January 8th


Sanskrit Pearl of the day:
पूरयेदशनेनार्धं तृतीयम् उदकेन तु ।
वायुसञ्चरणार्थाय चतुर्थमवशेषयेत् ॥

Transliteration:
pūrayedaśanenārdhaṃ tṛtīyam udakena tu ।
vāyusañcaraṇārthāya caturthamavaśeṣayet ॥

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Fill half with (solid) food, but the third quarter with water. For the movement of air leave the fourth quarter empty.

Commentary:
Referring to the stomach, that is!

If one wants to ward off a hoard of health issues, keep obesity at bay, look young and energetic even in old age, then this one simple rule will be enough.

At every meal, one should remember to consume solid food, filling only two quarters of his stomach.  He should fill another quarter with water and leave the last quarter empty. Following this one simple discipline is the best approach to having good health.

Think of the stomach like the jar of a blender.  If it is filled to the brim with solids, then the mixer won't be able to turn the blades. A jar filled half with solid ingredients and enough water to liquefy them results in a nice paste. The jar also needs some room to churn the solids and liquid together. So, the quarter that is left empty serves this purpose. An appropriate proportion of everything gives the best results.

If we do not keep this in mind and overload the jar, then the blender will surely break sooner than it should! Similarly, if we do not abide by this rule, our body will end up bearing the brunt and wear out sooner than later.

The choice is ours!

pada vigrahaH:
पूरयेत् अशनेन अर्धं तृतीयम् उदकेन तु ।
pūrayet aśanena ardhaṃ tṛtīyam udakena tu ।

वायु-सञ्चरण-अर्थाय चतुर्थम् अवशेषयेत् ॥
vāyu-sañcaraṇa-arthāya caturtham avaśeṣayet ॥

Alternate Transliteration:
pUrayedashanenaardhaM tRutIyam udakena tu ।
vaayusa~ncharaNaarthaaya chaturthamavasheShayet ॥

pUrayet ashanena ardhaM tRutIyam udakena tu ।
vaayu-sa~ncharaNa-arthaaya chaturtham avasheShayet ॥

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