Shloka 2

Prameha-Nidāna-Lakṣaṇa-Bheda: Etiology, Signs, Varieties, and Complications of Meha

Devanagari script

षट्चत्वारो ऽनिलात्तेच मेदोमत्रकफावहाः / हारिद्रमेही कटुकं हरिद्रासन्निभं शकृत्

Transliteration

ṣaṭcatvāro 'nilātteca medomatrakaphāvahāḥ / hāridramehī kaṭukaṃ haridrāsannibhaṃ śakṛt

Translation

Sechs Arten entstehen durch entgleistes vāta; und vier sind jene, die Störungen von Fett (medas), Harn und Schleim (kapha) herbeiführen. Wer am „kurkumafarbenen“ prameha leidet, scheidet scharfen Stuhl aus, gelb wie Kurkuma.

Word by Word

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः (six)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन (nom pl: four)

• अनिलात्: from vāta (wind)
• अनिलात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन (abl sg)

• ते: those (types)
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (nom pl)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction: and)

• मेदो-मत्र-कफ-आवहाः: bringing fat, urine and kapha (disorders)
• मेदो-मत्र-कफ-आवहाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेदस् + मत्र + कफ + आवह (आ + वह् धातु) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—द्वन्द्व (मेदः-मत्र-कफ) + तत्पुरुष (आवहाः = वहन्ति/आनयन्ति) (nom pl: bringing fat/urine/kapha)

• हारिद्रमेही: one with hāridra-meha (turmeric-like prameha)
• हारिद्रमेही: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हारिद्र + मेहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हारिद्रः मेहः यस्य/हारिद्रमेहः) (nom sg)

• कटुकम्: pungent
• कटुकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (acc sg)

• हरिद्रा-सन्निभम्: resembling turmeric
• हरिद्रा-सन्निभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरिद्रा + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हरिद्रायाः सन्निभम् = like turmeric) (acc sg)

• शकृत्: stool / feces
• शकृत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (nom/acc sg)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Doṣa-specific phenotypes: vāta-derived types and mixed tissue/fluids involvement; haridrā-meha marked by turmeric-yellow features and pungent excreta.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/doṣa interplay shaping nāma-rūpa of the body; empirical signs as gateways to right action.

Application: Recognize vāta involvement and mixed pathology; note characteristic yellow/turmeric coloration and pungency as clinical clues for subtype differentiation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159.1 (prameha nidāna and counts); Garuda Purana 1.159.3-4 (color/consistency variants)

Characters & Entities

• Vata
• Kapha

FAQs

What is the importance of hāridra-meha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses hāridra-meha as a diagnostic marker—describing characteristic bodily signs (yellow, turmeric-like excretion) to classify a specific urinary/metabolic disorder.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing bodily conditions and humoral imbalance, it frames the perishable body’s states—context often used in the Garuda Purana to motivate dharma and right conduct beyond the body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as an observation about symptom-based assessment: persistent abnormal coloration and changes in excretion are warning signs—seek timely medical evaluation while maintaining disciplined diet and conduct.