Shloka 24

Arśa-nidāna: Causes, Prodrome, Doṣa-types, and Complications of Hemorrhoids

Devanagari script

असारी विगतच्छायो जन्तुदग्ध इवद्रुम / कृच्छ्रैरुग्रद्रवैर्ग्रस्तो यक्ष्मोक्तैर्मर्मपीडनैः

Transliteration

asārī vigatacchāyo jantudagdha ivadruma / kṛcchrairugradravairgrasto yakṣmoktairmarmapīḍanaiḥ

Translation

Er wird saftlos und ohne Schatten, wie ein von Würmern versengter Baum. Harte und schreckliche Leiden bedrängen ihn; Schwindsucht (yakṣmā) quält seine lebenswichtigen Gelenke und empfindlichen Punkte.

Word by Word

• असारी: sapless; without essence
• असारी: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विगत-छायः: devoid of shade; faded
• विगत-छायः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगत (कृदन्त; √गम्/√इ) + छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (whose shade is gone)

• जन्तु-दग्धः: worm-burnt; eaten/burnt by creatures
• जन्तु-दग्धः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + दग्ध (कृदन्त; √दह्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (burnt by worms/creatures)

• इव: like; as if
• इव: Sambandha (Simile-marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle)

• द्रुमः: a tree
• द्रुमः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृच्छ्रैः: with severe (afflictions)
• कृच्छ्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• उग्र-द्रवैः: by fierce disorders/fluxes
• उग्र-द्रवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (or नपुंसक as 'द्रव'—here as afflictive flows); साधन-भाव

• ग्रस्तः: seized; afflicted
• ग्रस्तः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु) → ग्रस्त (कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यक्ष्म-उक्तैः: by those described as (due to) yakṣmā/consumption
• यक्ष्म-उक्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (said/caused by consumption)

• मर्म-पीडनैः: by pains/torments of vital points
• मर्म-पीडनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa manifests as depletion of rasa/ojas—life becomes like a scorched tree; severe afflictions strike marmas (vital points).

Vedantic Theme: Body as field (kṣetra) where karma ripens; loss of inner radiance indicates obscuration of sattva/tejas.

Application: Avoid adharma that drains vitality; cultivate sattvic conduct and protective disciplines (truthfulness, non-harm, reverence for sacred acts) to preserve ‘shade’ for oneself and others.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.156.23–27 (progressive symptomatology of karmic disease)

Characters & Entities

• Yakshma (consumptive disease)

FAQs

What is the importance of disease imagery in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the image of a worm-scorched, shade-less tree to show how karmic afflictions can drain vitality and dignity, making suffering a moral-spiritual warning rather than mere physical decline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By portraying intense bodily torment (especially at the marmas), the verse frames embodiment as a field where karmic results ripen—preparing the listener to understand later descriptions of post-death consequences and purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat health and vitality as supports for dharma: avoid harmful actions, cultivate restraint and compassion, and use periods of illness to deepen ethical reflection and spiritual discipline.