What the texts say
The passage matches the after-drink (anupana) to the food, and gives no reason beyond calling cold water "good" (hitam) for these foods. The one cold-drink warning we found is narrower: Charaka says cold things after drinking ghee are incompatible.[1][2]
The modern view
We found no study that tests this verse in adults eating meals. The nearest is an adjacent study from 1986. Twelve nursing infants were given water through a nasogastric tube, a thin tube through the nose into the stomach. Cold water given five minutes after room-temperature water slowed how fast the stomach emptied, and repeat doses of cold water did not slow it further. This was water alone, in babies, so it cannot speak to adults or to food.[3]
Classical text only
Questions people ask
Related
Water with meals
Vagbhata links water mid-meal to a moderate build, water first to a lean one and water last to a stout one. No study we found has tested this.
FoodCold water after ghee
Charaka says taking cold things after drinking ghee is incompatible. The rule is about ghee, not every meal, and no study we found tests it.
FoodHoney and hot water (shahad aur garam pani)
Charaka lists hot water after honey as incompatible, and Sushruta agrees. No study we found has tested the rule.
FoodFruit after meals
Sushruta puts fruit such as pomegranate at the start of a meal and praises amla at any point. No study we found tests this meal order.
Sources
- Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutra Sthana 8.47-48, GRETIL e-text.
- Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana 26.98 (Atreyabhadrakapyiya Adhyaya).
- Macedo Ada S, Collares EF, Troncon LE, Machado NC. [Gastric emptying in children. VI. Evaluation of the cumulative effect of the water low temperature]. Arquivos de Gastroenterologia. 1986;23:184-188. PMID 3435267.
Awaiting review by The Good Vaidya Medical Board. Prepared from the sources below and checked against each one.
Published 4 November 2026 · Last updated 4 November 2026