Shloka 9

Rajayakshma Nidana: Causes, Pathogenesis, Symptoms, and Prognosis

Devanagari script

मक्षिकातृणकेशादिपातः प्रायो ऽन्नपानयोः / हृल्लासश्छर्दिररुचिरस्नाते ऽपि बलक्षयः

Transliteration

makṣikātṛṇakeśādipātaḥ prāyo 'nnapānayoḥ / hṛllāsaśchardirarucirasnāte 'pi balakṣayaḥ

Translation

Oft fallen Fliegen, Grashalme, Haare und dergleichen in Speise und Trank. Es treten Übelkeit, Erbrechen und Appetitlosigkeit auf, und—selbst ohne Bad—schwindet die Kraft und zehrt sich aus.

Word by Word

• मक्षिकातृणकेशादिपातः: falling (of) flies, grass, hair, etc.
• मक्षिकातृणकेशादिपातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मक्षिका (प्रातिपदिक) + तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समाहार/तत्पुरुष—‘मक्षिका-तृण-केश-आदि-नाम् पातः’ (falling of flies/grass/hair etc. into)

• प्रायः: generally, mostly
• प्रायः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) प्रायः = बहुधा/अधिकांशतः

• अन्नपानयोः: of food and drink
• अन्नपानयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व—‘अन्नं च पानं च’

• हृल्लासः: nausea
• हृल्लासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृल्लास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• छर्दिः: vomiting
• छर्दिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छर्दि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अरुचिः: loss of appetite, distaste
• अरुचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अस्नाते: when not bathed, even without bathing
• अस्नाते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त) ‘अस्नात’ (not bathed); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute sense)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद/अतिशयार्थक अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• बलक्षयः: loss of strength
• बलक्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘बलस्य क्षयः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and careful food protection are implied: impurity entering food correlates with digestive distress and bala-kṣaya (loss of strength).

Vedantic Theme: External order supports internal clarity; neglect of basic cleanliness and attention leads to suffering in embodied life.

Application: Maintain food hygiene (cover food, clean preparation area), observe appetite cues, and address nausea early; prioritize cleanliness and regular nourishment to preserve strength.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.152 (symptoms: hṛllāsa, chardi, aruci, bala-kṣaya; food contamination signs)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of these bodily signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists practical, observable disturbances—contamination of food and drink, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and weakening—as indicators of serious bodily decline, framed within the Preta Kanda’s discussion of death-related conditions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by describing the body’s breakdown and aversion to nourishment, it signals the nearing separation of the jīva from the physical body, a transition that the Preta Kanda then connects to post-death rites and the soul’s onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat persistent nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, and unexplained weakness as serious warning signs—seek care, maintain cleanliness around food, and, in a traditional context, use the time to prepare ethically and spiritually (prayer, reconciliation, and appropriate rites).