Suvarnaprashan Shloka: The Kashyapa Samhita Verse and Its Meaning
Quick Answer
The Suvarnaprashan shloka comes from the Kashyapa Samhita (Sutrasthana, Lehadhyaya), the classical Ayurvedic text on child health. It says Suvarnaprashan increases medha (intellect), agni (digestion) and bala (strength), and describes what happens with one month and six months of regular use.
The Suvarnaprashan Shloka (Sanskrit)
सुवर्णप्राशनं ह्येतन्मेधाग्निबलवर्धनम् ।
आयुष्यं मङ्गलं पुण्यं वृष्यं वर्ण्यं ग्रहापहम् ॥
मासात् परममेधावी व्याधिभिर्न च धृष्यते ।
षड्भिर्मासैः श्रुतधरः सुवर्णप्राशनाद्भवेत् ॥
Transliteration
Suvarnaprashanam hyetan medhaagni-bala-vardhanam,
Aayushyam mangalam punyam vrishyam varnyam grahaapaham.
Maasaat parama-medhaavee vyaadhibhir na cha dhrishyate,
Shadbhir maasaih shrutadharah suvarnaprashanaad bhavet.
Meaning, Word by Word
| Sanskrit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Medha | Intellect, grasping power, memory |
| Agni | Digestive fire, appetite and digestion |
| Bala | Strength and resistance |
| Vardhanam | Increases |
| Aayushyam | Good for life span |
| Mangalam, Punyam | Auspicious, virtuous |
| Vrishyam | Nourishing, strengthening |
| Varnyam | Good for complexion |
| Grahaapaham | Protects from graha (the text's term for afflictions of childhood) |
| Maasaat parama-medhaavee | After one month, the child becomes highly intelligent |
| Vyaadhibhir na cha dhrishyate | Is not easily overcome by illness |
| Shadbhir maasaih shrutadharah | After six months, the child can retain whatever they hear |
Full Meaning in English
Suvarnaprashan increases intellect, digestion and strength. It is good for long life, auspicious, nourishing, good for the complexion and protective. Given for one month, the child becomes very intelligent and is not easily overcome by illness. Given for six months, the child becomes shrutadhara, able to remember what they hear.
हिंदी में अर्थ
सुवर्णप्राशन मेधा (बुद्धि), अग्नि (पाचन) और बल को बढ़ाता है। यह आयु बढ़ाने वाला, मंगलकारी, पुष्टिकारक और वर्ण निखारने वाला है। एक महीने तक देने से बच्चा मेधावी होता है और रोगों से जल्दी पराजित नहीं होता। छह महीने तक देने से बच्चा श्रुतधर बनता है, यानी जो सुने उसे याद रख सकता है। सुवर्णप्राशन के फायदे हिंदी में पढ़ें →
What the Shloka Means for Parents Today
- Consistency is the point. The text talks about one month and six months of regular use, not a single dose. That is why the daily routine matters for children from 4 months onward.
- The herbs match the verse. Brahmi, Shankhpushpi and Vacha are Ayurveda's classic medhya (intellect) herbs, and Amla, Harde and Baheda (Triphala) support agni. Baby Satwa Suvarna Bindu Prashan contains all of them with Suvarna Bhasma in a honey base.
- Dose by age. Follow the Suvarnaprashan dose by age chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which book has the Suvarnaprashan shloka?
Kashyapa Samhita, Sutrasthana, in the chapter on leha (lickable preparations for children).
Should the shloka be chanted while giving Suvarnaprashan?
It is not required. Many families and clinics recite it on Pushya Nakshatra as part of the ritual, and it is a nice way to make the moment special for the child.
What is "shrutadhara"?
A person who remembers whatever they hear. The verse links six months of Suvarnaprashan with this quality.