Shloka 12

Śvāsa-nidāna: Etiology, Types, Symptom Progression, and Fatal Prognosis

Devanagari script

कासश्वसितवच्छीर्णमर्मच्छेदरुजार्दितः / सस्वेदमूर्छः सानाहो बस्तिदाहविबोधवान्

Transliteration

kāsaśvasitavacchīrṇamarmacchedarujārditaḥ / sasvedamūrchaḥ sānāho bastidāhavibodhavān

Translation

Von Husten und mühsamem Atem gepeinigt, zehrt er dahin; von Schmerz geschlagen, als wären die Lebenspunkte (marma) durchschnitten. Schweißüberströmt und ohnmächtig, aufgebläht durch Verstopfung, mit brennendem Gefühl in der Blase—und doch bleibt er bei Bewusstsein und wach im Geist.

Word by Word

• कास: cough
• कास: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/समासपूर्वपदत्वेन (as compound member)

• श्वसित: breathing
• श्वसित: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/समासपूर्वपदत्वेन; क्तान्त (act of breathing)

• वत्: like
• वत्: Upamana (Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्ययान्त/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: सादृश्यवाचक अव्यय (like/as)

• छीर्ण: torn; injured
• छीर्ण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• मर्म: vital spot; sensitive point
• मर्म: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• छेद: cutting; incision
• छेद: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• रुजा: pain
• रुजा: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुज्/रुजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• अर्दितः: afflicted
• अर्दितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (one) afflicted

• स: with
• स: Sambandha (Compound marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/समासपूर्वपद)
• Form: सह/समेतार्थक उपसर्गवत् (prefix-like: with)

• स्वेद: sweat
• स्वेद: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• मूर्छः: fainting
• मूर्छः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (usage as mūrcchaḥ), प्रथमा, एकवचन; सस्वेद-समासोत्तरपद (as second member)

• स: with
• स: Sambandha (Compound marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/समासपूर्वपद)
• Form: सह/समेतार्थक (with)

• अनाहः: distension; bloating
• अनाहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सानाह-समासोत्तरपद

• बस्ति: bladder
• बस्ति: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बस्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• दाह: burning sensation
• दाह: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• विबोधवान्: conscious; aware
• विबोधवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विबोध + मतुप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (having awareness/being conscious)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Complicated disease picture: śvāsa-kāsa with kṣaya (wasting), marma-vedanā-like pain, sveda-mūrcchā, ānāha (obstruction/distension), and basti-dāha—showing systemic spread while consciousness remains.

Vedantic Theme: Sākṣitva (witness-consciousness) hinted by ‘vibodha-vān’—awareness persists amid bodily torment.

Application: Recognize multi-organ red flags; treat obstruction, urinary burning, and respiratory distress together; support the patient’s clarity with calm presence and spiritual reassurance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.150 (upadrava/saṃnipāta-like complications of śvāsa)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing such symptoms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse catalogs intense bodily afflictions to illustrate how karmic ripening can manifest as severe end-of-life suffering, emphasizing ethical living and timely religious duties.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By noting that the person remains 'vibodhavān' (conscious/aware) amid torment, it implies a lucid transitional state where suffering is experienced clearly, preparing the narrative ground for post-death journey teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and dharma, attend to duties and repentance early, and support the dying with calmness, prayer, and proper rites—recognizing that awareness may persist even during severe distress.