Word meanings
- āyuḥ sattva
- which promote longevity
- bala
- strength
- ārogya
- health
- sukha
- happiness
- prīti
- satisfaction
- vivardhanāḥ
- increase
- rasyāḥ
- juicy
- snigdhāḥ
- succulent
- sthirāḥ
- nourishing
- hṛdyāḥ
- pleasing to the heart
- āhārāḥ
- food
- sāttvika-priyāḥ
- dear to those in the mode of goodness
Translations
The foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, joy, and cheerfulness (good appetite), which are savory, oily, substantial, and agreeable, are dear to the Sattvic (pure) people.
The foods that prolong life, increase purity, vigour, health, cheerfulness, and happiness are those that are delicious, soothing, substantial, and agreeable; these are loved by the pure.
Foods that augment life, firmness of mind, strength, health, happiness, and delight, and which are succulent, oleaginous, substantial, and agreeable, are dear to one endowed with sattva.
आयु, सत्त्वगुण, बल, आरोग्य, सुख और प्रसन्नता बढ़ानेवाले, स्थिर रहनेवाले, हृदयको शक्ति देनेवाले, रसयुक्त तथा चिकने -- ऐसे आहार अर्थात् भोजन करनेके पदार्थ सात्त्विक मनुष्यको प्रिय होते हैं।Commentary
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.