Shloka 34

Vāta-vyādhi Nidāna and Lakṣaṇa: Obstruction, Dhātu-Seating, and Major Neuromuscular Entities

Devanagari script

निष्ठीवः पार्श्वतोदश्च ह्येकस्याक्ष्णो निमीलनम् / जत्रोरूर्ध्वं रुजस्तीव्राः शरीरार्धधरो ऽपि वा

Transliteration

niṣṭhīvaḥ pārśvatodaśca hyekasyākṣṇo nimīlanam / jatrorūrdhvaṃ rujastīvrāḥ śarīrārdhadharo 'pi vā

Translation

يظهر البصاق (أو فرطُ سيلان اللعاب) وألمٌ طاعنٌ في الجنب؛ وقد تُغلَق عينٌ واحدة لا إراديًا؛ وقد تقع آلامٌ شديدة فوق الترقوة، أو حتى شللٌ لنصف الجسد.

Word by Word

• niṣṭhīvaḥ: spitting
• niṣṭhīvaḥ: Karta (Listed symptom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣṭhīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• pārśvatodaḥ: stitch/pain in the side
• pārśvatodaḥ: Karta (Listed symptom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva-toda (प्रातिपदिक; pārśva + toda)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘piercing pain of the side’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• ekasya: of one (single)
• ekasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• akṣṇaḥ: of the eye
• akṣṇaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• nimīlanam: closing (of the eye)
• nimīlanam: Karta (Listed symptom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimīlana (प्रातिपदिक; ni-√mīl)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• jatroḥ: of the collarbone/neck region
• jatroḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jatrū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ūrdhvam: upwards/above
• ūrdhvam: Adhikarana (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhvam (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• rujaḥ: pains
• rujaḥ: Karta (Listed symptom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ruj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tīvrāḥ: severe
• tīvrāḥ: Karta (Adjective to ‘rujaḥ’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīvra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śarīrārdhadharaḥ: one with half-body paralysis
• śarīrārdhadharaḥ: Karta (Listed condition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra-ardha-dhara (प्रातिपदik; śarīra + ardha + dhara)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (‘one who bears/affects half the body’)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: ‘also/even’)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Severity markers: involuntary eye closure, intense pains, and half-body paralysis indicate deeper vāta involvement and possible obstruction/derangement in upper channels.

Vedantic Theme: Suffering intensifies when the body’s functional harmonies break; dispassionate clarity supports right action.

Application: Treat as emergent when paralysis or severe supraclavicular pain appears; prioritize stabilization, warmth, and professional care; avoid exertion and cold exposure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.166.33 (preceding systemic signs); Garuda Purana 1.166.35 (naming ardita/ekāṅga; blood-vessel involvement)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What kinds of bodily afflictions are highlighted in this Garuda Purana verse?

It highlights acute neurological and respiratory distress markers—one eye involuntarily closing, intense upper-body pain, and half-body paralysis—along with side pain and spitting/salivation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

The verse frames these conditions as signs of a critical turning point where bodily control weakens, traditionally understood as prāṇa withdrawing and the jīva nearing departure from the gross body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a call for timely care and also spiritual readiness—reconciliation, prayer, mantra-japa, and arranging appropriate family rites—rather than postponing dharmic responsibilities.