Shloka 16

Kāsa-bheda: The Fivefold Classification of Cough and Its Clinical Signs

Devanagari script

कर्वन्ति यक्ष्मायतने कासं ष्ठीवत्कफं ततः / पूतिपूयोपमं वीतं मिश्रं हरितलोहितम्

Transliteration

karvanti yakṣmāyatane kāsaṃ ṣṭhīvatkaphaṃ tataḥ / pūtipūyopamaṃ vītaṃ miśraṃ haritalohitam

Translation

Im Zustand der yakṣmā (Schwindsucht) entsteht Husten, und dann spuckt er Schleim aus. Der Auswurf ist übelriechend, eitergleich, und erscheint vermischt, grünlich und rötlich.

Word by Word

• कुर्वन्ति: they cause/produce
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• यक्ष्मायतने: in the seat/source of consumption
• यक्ष्मायतने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यक्ष्मस्य आयतनम्)

• कासम्: cough
• कासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ष्ठीवत्: spittle/saliva
• ष्ठीवत्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ष्ठीवत्/ष्ठीवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (in compound as first member); meaning ‘spittle/saliva’

• कफम्: phlegm
• कफम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ष्ठीवत्-कफम् = phlegm mixed with spittle)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana/Temporal (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक

• पूति: foul-smelling
• पूति: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (in compound) दुर्गन्धयुक्त (foul)

• पूय: pus
• पूय: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (in compound)

• उपमम्: resembling foul pus
• उपमम्: Karma/Predicate (Qualifier of expectoration/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पूति-पूय-उपमम् = resembling foul pus)

• वीतम्: discharged/voided
• वीतम्: Karma/Predicate (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि + इ/ए धातोः)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• मिश्रम्: mixed
• मिश्रम्: Karma/Predicate (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हरित: greenish
• हरित: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (in compound)

• लोहितम्: green-and-red (variegated)
• लोहितम्: Karma/Predicate (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (हरित-लोहितम् = green and red)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unvarnished depiction of bodily impurity to weaken attachment and sharpen discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Aśubha-bhāvanā (contemplation of impurity) as an aid to dispassion.

Application: Use realistic awareness of the body’s vulnerability to reduce vanity; pursue health responsibly and cultivate inner steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149 (yakṣmā symptomatology)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of describing yakṣmā (consumption) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives a diagnostic-style description of suffering in the body, reinforcing the Purana’s teaching that embodied pain and decay are serious consequences within samsara and are often linked to karma.

How does this verse explain suffering in the Garuda Purana narrative context?

By detailing foul, pus-like, mixed-colored expectoration in yakṣmā, the text emphasizes the harsh realities of physical affliction, supporting the broader Purana theme of ethical living and spiritual preparation beyond the body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the body as impermanent, live with restraint and dharma, and respond to illness with timely care, cleanliness, and spiritual disciplines (japa, charity, and right conduct) rather than denial or negligence.