Alcohol—Like Food, Its Use Defines Its Impact
kintu madyaṃ svabhāvena yathaivānnaṃ tathā smṛitam।
ayuktiyuktaṃ rogāya, yuktiyuktaṃ yathā'mṛtam॥किन्तु मद्यं स्वभावेन यथैवान्नं तथा स्मृतम्।अयुक्तियुक्तं रोगाय, युक्तियुक्तं यथाऽमृतम्॥kintu madyam svabhAvena yathaivAnnam tathA smRitam |ayuktiyuktam rogAya, yuktiyuktam yathA~mRitam ||
But alcohol, by nature, is like food (in composition and in giving energy). When used inappropriately, it leads to disease; when used appropriately, it is like nectar.
This interesting śhloka is from Charaka, the āyurvaidya (doctor of āyurveda) par excellence, author of Charaka-saṃhitā.
It says that alcohol, which is mainly made from grains or fruits, is essentially, naturally, materially, and chemically the same as food in its energy-giving ability. But its use is what makes it good or bad.
When used inappropriately, in excess, over the limit, in competition, etc., it can be dangerous. But if used moderately, like good wine, it can be like nectar—giving a nice feeling, building appetite, and even helping digestion. And as modern research would have us believe, it even reduces heart attacks (red wine).
Why this śhloka?
Well, first, the language is simple.
Second, it gives another aspect of Indian life. Alcohol is considered so bad that it is regarded as one of the sins. It is seen as a barrier to spiritual growth.
But we should remember that life in India was not synthetic, nor curbed randomly. Alcohol and even meat-eating are accepted as things that happen when one is born in the material body (Manusmṛiti).
Food impacts our thinking and subsequently our actions. For those on the pursuit of truth (brāhmaṇas), having a woozy mind is counterproductive. Having any habit is slavery of the mind (manas). Hence, for a brāhmaṇa, it is prohibited.
For a kṣhatriya or other varṇas, it is not prohibited. For soldiers or rājasic-dominant people, it is accepted. Even from ancient times, even in the times of Chāṇakya and before, there were alcohol bars, joints, and butcher shops.
But this doesn't mean it doesn't have consequences.
A person on the spiritual path should avoid both alcohol and meat—not because they are sins, but because they are detrimental to spiritual growth by making the mind fickle or woozy.
Wine drinking, as compared to liquor, was an accepted form even among ṛṣis and brāhmaṇas, though not so easily affordable for the latter.
Where Did the Prohibition on Alcohol Begin?
So where did it start—the prohibition on alcohol? One possible answer comes from the story of Kacha and Devayānī.
Kacha was sent by the devas to learn the art of sañjīvanī (reviving the dead) from Śhukrāchārya, the guru of the daityas.
He accepted the disciple, but the daityas didn't like their enemy learning the secret of their success. So they killed Kacha. But because the guru's daughter, Devayānī, was in love with Kacha, the guru revived him. After two failed attempts, the daityas hit upon an idea.
They killed Kacha, burned him, mixed his ashes in alcohol, and served it to the guru. The guru was happy with the present and drank it all up.
When Devayānī again asked her father to revive Kacha, he came alive in his belly. The only way to let him come out was to tear the guru's belly, which would kill him. So Guru Śhukrāchārya taught him the sañjīvanī vidyā, let him come out, and then Kacha revived the guru as well.
After this, the guru was disgusted, shocked, and told the daityas that because of their foolishness, he had to teach Kacha the secret. Then he declared that alcohol had clouded his judgment, and henceforth, no brāhmaṇa should ever drink it.
In another similar śhloka, Charaka says that "food is like breath (life force), and when used appropriately, it is for nutrition; otherwise, it is fatal."
It is good to remember that Indian thought and life have not been skewed irrationally. There are different pieces of advice for people living at different levels of body/spirit and in different roles in society. It is never "one size fits all."
Language Aspects of the Śhloka
- kintu = but
- madyam = alcohol
- svabhāvena = by nature (natural material composition)
- sva + bhāva + -ena
- sva = self
- bhāva = being
- svabhāvena = by its own nature
- yathaivānnaṃ tathā = yathā eva annam tathā
- yathā... tathā... = "As this, so that" (used in pairs to express comparison)
- yathaivānnaṃ tathā smṛitam = It is said that alcohol is like food.
- smṛitam = is said, is remembered (as in "they say")
- ayuktiyuktam = a + yukti + yuktam
- a- = without
- yukti = appropriate usage (related to "yoga" from the root "yuj")
- ayuktiyuktam = used inappropriately
- rogāya = for disease
- yuktiyuktam = yukti + yuktam
- yukti = appropriate usage
- yuktam = used
- yuktiyuktam = used appropriately
- yathā'mṛitam = yathā + amṛitam
- yathā = like
- amṛitam = nectar, ambrosia
(c) Shashikant Joshi । शशिकांत जोशी । ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः ।
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