What the texts say
Ghee appears in the verse joined to sugar in one word, ghṛtaśarkaram, literally "ghee-sugar". The edition we opened lists the two as separate choices, and our translation follows it, but the word could also be read as ghee and sugar taken together. The next verse, 7.62, names what a lover of curd risks by ignoring these rules: fever, raktapitta (bleeding from different parts of the body), visarpa (erysipelas), kushtha (skin disease), anaemia, giddiness and severe jaundice.[1][2]
The modern view
We found no study of curd eaten with ghee.
From the classical texts
Related
Curd and sugar (dahi-chini)
Charaka names sugar as one of the things curd should be eaten with. Dahi-chini is on his list of accompaniments, not his list of things to avoid.
FoodCurd (dahi) at night
Charaka and the Ashtanga Hridaya both say not to eat curd at night. Charaka lists fever, skin disease and jaundice among the illnesses that follow.
FoodHoney and ghee in equal parts
Charaka and Sushruta both say honey and ghee taken in equal amounts are incompatible. Charaka files it under incompatibility by quantity.
FoodCold water after ghee
Charaka says taking cold things after drinking ghee is incompatible. The rule is about ghee, not about water after every meal.
Sources
- Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana 7.61 (Naveganadharaniya Adhyaya).
- Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana 7.62 (Naveganadharaniya Adhyaya).
Updated 4 November 2026