What the texts say
The line is part of the Ashtanga Hridaya's list of incompatible foods (viruddha ahara), among other meat pairings: boar with porcupine, and spotted deer or chicken with curd. Sushruta (Sutra 20.13) also lists chicken and curd among foods not to be eaten together, so the two texts agree on this pair.[1][2]
The modern view
We found no study of people eating curd with chicken.
From the classical texts
Questions people ask
Does the rule include chicken marinated in curd?
The verse names chicken with curd and draws no line between a marinade and curd served alongside.[1]
Related
Meat and honey
Charaka says not to eat the meat of domestic, marsh or water animals with honey, and warns of deafness, blindness, tremors or death.
FoodMeat and radish (mooli)
Charaka lists radish (mooli) among eight foods not to eat with the meat of domestic, marsh or water animals.
FoodMilk with meat
Charaka and Sushruta say not to eat the meat of domestic, marsh or water animals in the same meal as milk.
FoodBanana and curd (kela aur dahi)
The Ashtanga Hridaya and Sushruta both list banana with curd among the incompatible foods, along with banana and buttermilk.
Sources
- Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutra Sthana 7.33, GRETIL e-text.
- Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana 20.13, NIIMH e-text.
Updated 4 November 2026