Vipaka

The Sanskrit term ‘Vipaka’ (also spelled as vipaaka or vipAka) means specific transformation or effect after digestion of a substance. Detailed and in-depth description of the process of metabolism is the key component of Ayurveda physiology as well as pathology. Almost all the pathologies occurring in the human body are caused due to imbalance or malfunctioning of metabolism governed by the agni. Thus, it is of utmost importance for every physician to know the function of agni in detail. The process of metabolism is divided into two main components i.e. avasthapaka and vipaka. Avasthapaka is the general process of catabolism needed for all food and medicines ingested orally. It involves three stages viz. madhura (sweet), amla (sour) and katu (pungent) avasthapaka. Avasthapaka refers to a series of changes that food undergoes in the gut (koshtha). Agni is responsible for digestion and metabolism. In the first stage of digestion (madhura avasthapaka), the food in stomach (amashaya) undergoes primary transformation. In the second stage (amla avasthapaka), the food undergoes vigorous digestion in duodenum and small intestine (pachyamanashaya). Amlabhava develops under the action of the acid medium. In the third stage (katu avasthapaka), absorption of water and electrolytes occurs in the large intestine. The faeces are formed after maximum water absorption (pari pandita pakwasya). Odoriferous products with pungent gases are also released (vayusyatkatubhavatah). [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/9-11]

Diet and drugs undergo some inevitable changes during digestion. This may not feel change in the taste of the ingested substance. The characters are modified by agni in such a way that the ingested foreign substance can be assimilated by the body. Even though some properties of the substance persist after digestion, the end outcome of the digestion is governed by the vipaka of the substance. This vipaka is ultimately governed by the agni of the individual. Thus, vipaka can be predicted only by logical inference after observing the action on various components of the body.

Vipaka mainly starts in stomach and duodenum (grahani), and is responsible for the ultimate effect of the food or medicine ingested. The effect in the time of avasthapaka is momentary and confined to the region of the process, while the effect of vipaka can be seen on the whole body. The concept of 'vipaka’ holds significant importance in ayurvedic approach of metabolism as well as pharmaco-therapeutics. Vipaka is one of the components of rasa panchaka i.e. pharmacodynamic attributes of the drug. Thus, comprehensive knowledge of vipaka is essential to attain excellence in preservation of health and management of diseases through Ayurveda.

Vipaka

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts / Vipaka
Authors	Bhojani M.K.1, Joshi Sumedh2
Reviewers	T.Saketh Ram3, Basisht G.4, Khandel S.K.5
Editor	Deole Y.S.6
Affiliations	1 Department of Kriya Sharira, A.I.I.A., New Delhi, India 2 Department of Dravyaguna, A.I.I.A., New Delhi, India 3National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, C.C.R.A.S. Hyderabad, India 4 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 5Arogyalaxmi Ayurveda Consultancy, Jaipur, India 6 Department of Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabhvidya Nagar, Anand, Gujarat, India
Correspondence email	meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of first publication:	July15, 2022
DOI	In process

Etymology and derivation

The word Vipaka is made by adding the prefix ‘Vi’, meanings specific or distinguished [Monnier Williams] to the root verb ‘Pach- Paka’ meaning digestion, assimilation of food [Monnier Williams]. It can also be derived as “Vi” is Vishishtha meaning specific, and ‘Paka’ refers to the function assigned to agni (metabolic energy).

Synonyms

1. Vipaka: The term denotes specific transformation of ingested food/medicine by means of digestive capacity (jatharagni).[Sarvangasundara commentary by Hemdari on A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 9/20]
2. Nishthapaka: In this process, transformation of nutrient fluid (rasa) takes place that can be considered as the final product after digestion. [Ayurveda Deepika commentary by Chakrapani on Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/9-11]

Definition

Vipaka is defined as the transformation occurring in the nutrient fluid (rasa) after the action of jatharagni.[A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 9/20] The process occurs only after completion of avasthapaka. Vipaka occurs when the ingested food gets divided into two parts viz. fluid formed after digestion (ahara-rasa) and excretory products (mala).[Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/9-11]

Types

Various theories can be witnessed regarding the number and/or types of vipaka as described below in table 1:

Table 1: Types of vipaka

S. no	Name	Types of Vipaka	Explanation	Reference
1.	Yatharasa vipakavada (predictable as per taste)	Six types of vipaka	Scholars of this view opine that vipaka of each substance is definite and is according to the taste (rasa). E.g. Sweet substance (madhura rasa dravya) will definitely transform into madhura vipaka ( transformation into sweet substance in body)	[Shivadassen commentary of Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 40/10]
2.	Aniyata vipakavada (unpredictable)	Innumerable	Scholars of this view opine that the predominant taste (rasa) at the time of digestion overpowers other taste (rasa). Resultant vipaka will be according to the dominant rasa.	Yogendranath Sen commentary of [Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 40/10]
3.	Panchavidha vipakavada (five types)	Five types of vipaka	Scholars of this view opine that vipaka depends upon the predominance of one of the mahabhuta in dravya.	[Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 40/10]
4.	Trividha vipakavada (three types)	Three types of vipaka	Probably pungent (katu), bitter (tikta) and astringent (kashaya) substances undergo katu vipaka; Sour (amla rasa) undergoes amla vipaka and sweet (madhura) to madhura vipaka	[Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 26/57-58], [A.Hr. Sutra Sthana 9/21]

   This page is under development.