आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः | रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः ||१७-८||
āyuḥsattvabalārogyasukhaprītivivardhanāḥ . rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā āhārāḥ sāttvikapriyāḥ ||17-8||
Chapter 17 · Verse 8
Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga
श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग
In plain words
Pure food increases the vitality and strength of those who eat it. It augments the energy of the mind also. Sattva Cheerfulness purity inner moral and spiritual strength and courage that keep the mind steady even in great distress.
Translation
17.8 Foods which promote longevity, intellectual alertness, strength, health, pleasure and happiness and those that are sweet, oil, substantial and agreeable, are dear to Sattvika men.
Meaning
Pure food increases the vitality and strength of those who eat it. It augments the energy of the mind also. Sattva Cheerfulness purity inner moral and spiritual strength and courage that keep the mind steady even in great distress. Bala Strength absence of fatigue even in doing difficult work. Priti Absence of retching good appetite. Rasyah Sweet and juicy. Sthirah Substantial which can last long in the body vitalising but not difficult to digest. Hridyah The mere sight of the food is very pleasing to the mind and it is free from odour of smoke or burnt condition. Sattvic food produces cheerfulness serenity and mental clarity and helps the aspirants to enter into deep meditation and maintain mental poise and nervous eilibrium. It supplies the maximum energy to the body and the mind. It is very easily assimilated and absorbed. A Sattvic man relishes juicy food and other foods which are attractive in form soft to touch and pleasant to taste which are small in bulk but great in nourishment like the words from the lips of a spiritual preceptor. Sattvic food is highly conducive to health. Eat that food which will develop Sattva in you. Milk butter fresh ripe fruits almonds green Dal barley. Parwal. Torai. Karela plantains etc. are Sattvic. Abandon fish meat liors eggs etc. ruthlessly if you want to increase Sattva and attain Selfrealisation. The mind is formed of the subtle portion of the food. जैसा अन्न वैसा मन As is the food so is the mind says a Hindi proverb. If you take Sattvic food the mind also will be Sattvic. The seven elements (Dhatus) of the body (Chyle blood flesh fat bone marrow and semen) are formed out of food. Ideas or concepts are generated in the mind corresponding to these seven elements. As is the constitution of these elements so is the constitution of the mind. Just as water is rendered hot when the pot that contains it is placed over the fire so also the nature and constitution of the mind is according to the nature and constitution of the food or the seven elements.
Word by word
आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः those which increase Ayus (life). Sattva (purity). Bala (strength). Arogya (health). Sukha (joy). Priti (cheerfulness and good appetite) रस्याः savoury स्निग्धाः oleaginous स्थिराः substantial हृद्याः agreeable आहाराः the foods सात्त्विकप्रियाः are dear to Sattvic (pure).