Shloka 31

Yama-mārga (Adhvan) and the Courts of Yama: Vaivasvatī and Chitragupta

Devanagari script

मध्यपीठोत्तरे ज्ञेयो तथा चान्या विषचिका / ऐशन्यां वै शिरो ऽर्तिश्च आग्नेय्याञ्चैव मृकता

Transliteration

madhyapīṭhottare jñeyo tathā cānyā viṣacikā / aiśanyāṃ vai śiro 'rtiśca āgneyyāñcaiva mṛkatā

Translation

إذا عُرِف الألم في أعلى وسط الظهر فاعلم أنه داء يُسمّى «فِشَتشيكا» (viṣacikā)، داءٌ سامّ شبيه بالكوليرا. وكذلك فالألم في الشمال الشرقي يدلّ على ابتلاء الرأس، وفي الجنوب الشرقي يدلّ على الهزال والاستهلاك (mṛkatā).

Word by Word

• madhya-pīṭha-uttare: to the north of the central seat
• madhya-pīṭha-uttare: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (मध्य) + pīṭha (पीठ प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (उत्तर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (मध्यपीठस्य उत्तरे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• jñeyaḥ: is to be known
• jñeyaḥ: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु) → jñeya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be known)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (likewise)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anyā: another
• anyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण/संज्ञा-रूपेण (another [one])

• viṣacikā: viṣacikā (a disease name)
• viṣacikā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣacikā (विषचिका प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• aiśanyām: in the north-east
• aiśanyām: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśanī (ऐशनी/ऐशान्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (in the north-east)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• śiraḥ: head (disease: headache)
• śiraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (शिरस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• artiḥ: pain/affliction
• artiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arti (अर्ति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• āgneyyām: in the south-east
• āgneyyām: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgneyī (आग्नेयी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (in the south-east)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic: just/indeed)

• mṛkatā: mṛkatā (a disease name)
• mṛkatā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛkatā (मृकता प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific pains/signs correspond to specific afflictions; suffering is classified and knowable, implying ordered karmic fruition.

Vedantic Theme: The phenomenal body as a field where karma ripens in determinate patterns; knowledge of patterns fosters detachment and ethical vigilance.

Application: Observe causes and effects carefully; treat early signs (physical or moral) as prompts for correction and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: dik-mandala and body-map (deha-lakṣaṇa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.33.29–32: the surrounding afflictions of Citragupta’s station; this verse continues the catalog with directional specificity

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of directional pain omens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily pain and its directional/locational occurrence as a diagnostic omen, linking specific regions (north-east, south-east, upper middle-back) to particular ailments.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on death and illness?

In the Preta Kanda, illness-signs are often presented as warnings that prompt timely dharmic preparation—medical care, purification, and rites—before a person enters the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional indicator to take symptoms seriously: seek treatment early, reduce harmful habits, and maintain spiritual preparedness through prayer, charity, and appropriate family rites.