Shloka 7

Atīsāra (Diarrhoea) and Grahaṇī-doṣa: Causes, Prodromal Signs, Doṣa-wise Symptoms, and Major-Disease Status

Devanagari script

रूक्षं सफेनमच्छं च गृहीतं व मुहुर्मुहुः / तथादग्धगदाभासं पिच्छिलं परिकर्तयन्

Transliteration

rūkṣaṃ saphenamacchaṃ ca gṛhītaṃ va muhurmuhuḥ / tathādagdhagadābhāsaṃ picchilaṃ parikartayan

Translation

Immer wieder wird er ergriffen – (sein Körper wird) rau, schaumig und blass; und als ob er verbrannt und klebrig wäre, wird er von schneidenden Schmerzen gequält.

Word by Word

• रूक्षम्: dry, rough
• रूक्षम्: Qualifier (of gṛhītam/imp. stool)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सफेनम्: foamy
• सफेनम्: Qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/सह-सम्बन्ध: फेनयुक्तम्

• अच्छम्: clear, watery/transparent
• अच्छम्: Qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गृहीतम्: seized/held; taken (as stool is passed)
• गृहीतम्: Karma/State descriptor
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) → गृहीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• वा: or
• वा: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time/frequency)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Connector/Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner)

• दग्ध: burnt, scorched
• दग्ध: Qualifier (in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दह् (धातु) → दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); भूतकृदन्त

• गद: disease
• गद: Qualifier (in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन-समासपूर्वपद

• आभासम्: having the appearance of burning illness
• आभासम्: Qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: दग्धगदस्य आभासः (appearance of burning disease)

• पिच्छिलम्: slimy, mucous-like
• पिच्छिलम्: Qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिच्छिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परिकर्तयन्: causing cutting pain; tearing
• परिकर्तयन्: Kriya-visheshana (Concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√कृत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभाव (concomitant action)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Severe gut pathology can manifest in recurrent bouts with systemic signs—roughness, frothing, pallor, burning sensations, and slimy/sticky excretions with cutting pain.

Vedantic Theme: Aśuci (impurity) and duḥkha highlight the transient, vulnerable nature of the body; impetus for vairāgya without denying compassionate care.

Application: Recognize severity and recurrence as danger signs; seek stronger therapeutic measures and avoid aggravating foods/activities that increase dryness or heat.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.157.8 (pitta coloration and distress signs)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Yama
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of punishments described in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses visceral imagery—being repeatedly seized, scorched, and cut—to emphasize that sinful karma produces tangible suffering in Yama’s domain, motivating ethical restraint and repentance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Within the Preta Kanda narrative, the departed (as a preta) undergoes experiences shaped by past actions; the repeated ‘seizing’ and ‘mangling’ indicates cyclical, unavoidable karmic consequences until expiation is completed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma—avoid harm, deceit, and exploitation; perform repentance and corrective acts, and support death-rites (shraddha/pinda-dana) with sincerity to reduce fear and cultivate responsibility for one’s karma.