लाघवं कर्मसामर्थ्यं दीप्तोऽग्निर्मेदसः क्षयः। विभक्तघनगात्रत्वं व्यायामादुपजायते॥
lāghavaṁ karmasāmarthyaṁ dīpto’gnir medasaḥ kṣayaḥ । vibhaktaghanagātratvaṁ vyāyāmādupajāyate ॥
PM's MessageOn World Health Day, I pray for the good health and well-being of all my fellow countrymen. I urge everyone to make every possible effort to keep themselves healthy.
Meaning of Lāghavaṁ Karmasāmarthyaṁ Dīpto’Gnir
Exercise increases the capacity to work, kindles the digestive fire, reduces obesity and the parts of the body begin to become strong and well-proportioned.
Word by word
- लाघवम्lāghavam
lightness
लघु
- कर्मसामर्थ्यम्karmasāmarthyam
capacity for work
कर्मन् + समर्थ
- दीप्तःdīptaḥ
kindled
√दीप्
- अग्निःagniḥ
the digestive fire
अग्नि
- मेदसःmedasaḥ
of fat
मेदस्
- क्षयःkṣayaḥ
reduction
√क्षि
- विभक्तघनगात्रत्वम्vibhaktaghanagātratvam
well-defined, firm limbs
वि + √भज् + घन + गात्र
- व्यायामात्vyāyāmāt
from exercise
वि + आ + √यम्
- उपजायतेupajāyate
arises
उप + √जन्
Commentary
This verse from the Ashtanga Hridayam lists five results of vyāyāma, exercise: lightness, capacity for work, a kindled digestive fire, reduction of excess fat, and firm, well-defined limbs. The list combines felt, functional, digestive, and visible effects; it does not follow a strict inward-to-outward sequence, since digestive fire appears between functional capacity and fat reduction. Its place in the Dinacharya chapter also matters: exercise is presented as part of an ordinary daily regimen rather than only as treatment for a complaint. The verse therefore treats regular movement as supporting the body’s readiness, digestion, composition, and form together.
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More subhashitams on Health
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.