Shloka 19

Kuṣṭha-bheda-lakṣaṇa-nidāna and Śvitra (Kilāsa) Prognosis

Devanagari script

ऋष्यजिह्वाकृतिप्रोक्तं ऋष्यजिह्वं बहुक्रिमि / हस्तिचर्मखरस्पर्शं चर्माख्यं कुष्ठमुच्यते

Transliteration

ṛṣyajihvākṛtiproktaṃ ṛṣyajihvaṃ bahukrimi / hasticarmakharasparśaṃ carmākhyaṃ kuṣṭhamucyate

Translation

نوعٌ من الجُذام قيل إنه يشبه «لسان الرِّشي» يُسمّى «رِشيَجِهفا (Ṛṣyajihvā)»، وهو موبوءٌ بكثيرٍ من الديدان. وأما الجُذام الذي يُحَسّ عند لمسه كجلد الفيل—خشناً قاسياً—فيُدعى «تشارماخيا (Carmākhya)» أي “نوع الجلد”.

Word by Word

• ऋष्यजिह्वाकृतिप्रोक्तम्: said to be of the ‘ṛṣyajihvā’ shape
• ऋष्यजिह्वाकृतिप्रोक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋष्यजिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + कृति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रोक्त (प्र + √वच्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—ऋष्यजिह्वाकृत्या प्रोक्तम् (as said to be of the form of ṛṣyajihvā)

• ऋष्यजिह्वम्: (called) ṛṣyajihva
• ऋष्यजिह्वम्: Visheshya (Qualified noun/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋष्यजिह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बहुक्रिमि: having many worms
• बहुक्रिमि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बहवः कृमयः यस्मिन्)

• हस्तिचर्मखरस्पर्शम्: with a rough touch like elephant skin
• हस्तिचर्मखरस्पर्शम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + खर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—हस्तिचर्मवत् खरः स्पर्शः यस्य

• चर्माख्यम्: named ‘carma’
• चर्माख्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक; √ख्या (धातु) क्त/ण्यत्-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चर्म इति आख्यं/नाम यस्य)

• कुष्ठम्: leprosy/skin disease
• कुष्ठम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called/said
• उच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge (lakshana-jnana) distinguishes conditions; accurate naming is part of wise action.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) applied at the empirical level; knowledge guides right conduct.

Application: Use careful observation and precise terminology; consult skilled practitioners rather than superstition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.164 (kushta-bheda: ṛṣyajihvā, carmākhya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of describing kuṣṭha (skin diseases) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies specific kuṣṭha-types by appearance and touch, reflecting the Purana’s diagnostic style and its moral-cosmological framing of suffering as a result of prior causes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing bodily afflictions, it supports the text’s broader teaching that embodied experience—including disease—can arise from past actions and serves as a field for dharma and purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to cultivate ethical conduct and compassion toward the sick; medically, treat such descriptions as traditional symptom-categories, not as a substitute for diagnosis.