Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

शीतप्रियत्वं गलतालुशोषो माधुर्य मास्ये करपाददाहः / भविष्यतो मेहगणस्य रूपं मूत्रे ऽपि धावन्ति पिपीलिकाश्च

Transliteration

śītapriyatvaṃ galatāluśoṣo mādhurya māsye karapādadāhaḥ / bhaviṣyato mehagaṇasya rūpaṃ mūtre 'pi dhāvanti pipīlikāśca

Translation

Vorliebe für Kaltes, Trockenheit von Kehle und Gaumen, süßer Geschmack im Mund und Brennen in Händen und Füßen—dies sind die Zeichen, die das Herannahen der Meha-/Prameha‑Gruppe (Harnleiden) ankündigen; selbst Ameisen laufen zum Urin.

Word by Word

• शीतप्रियत्वम्: liking for cold
• शीतप्रियत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रियत्व (प्रातिपदिक; भाव)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (शीतस्य प्रियत्वम्), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — ‘fondness for cold’

• गलतालुशोषः: dryness of throat and palate
• गलतालुशोषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक) + तालु (प्रातिपदिक) + शोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (गलस्य तालोः च शोषः), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — ‘dryness of throat and palate’

• माधुर्यम्: sweetness
• माधुर्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — ‘sweetness’

• आस्ये: in the mouth
• आस्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम् — ‘in the mouth’

• करपाददाहः: burning in hands and feet
• करपाददाहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (करयोः पादयोः दाहः), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — ‘burning of hands and feet’

• भविष्यतः: of the impending
• भविष्यतः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भविष्यत् (कृदन्त; √भू धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/भविष्यत्), षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (पुं/नपुं) — ‘of the future/impending’

• मेहगणस्य: of the meha group
• मेहगणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेह (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (मेहानां गणः), पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् — ‘of the group of meha (urinary disorders)’

• रूपम्: sign; manifestation
• रूपम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम् — ‘form/sign’

• मूत्रे: in the urine
• मूत्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम् — ‘in urine’

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/अपि-कार) — ‘also/even’

• धावन्ति: run
• धावन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम् — ‘run’

• पिपीलिकाः: ants
• पिपीलिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिपीलिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् — ‘ants’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Repeated instruction: vigilance and early correction prevent escalation; disciplined living is protective.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic care of the body supports pursuit of higher aims; repeated reminders cultivate smṛti (mindful recollection) and restraint.

Application: Use the symptom cluster as a checklist; if present, adjust diet and habits and consult a practitioner before full manifestation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159.35 (same symptom cluster); Garuda Purana 1.159.38 (thirst, sweet/sticky urine; doṣa causation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Meha (Prameha)

FAQs

What is the importance of Prameha (Meha) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Prameha as a recognizable disorder with specific early signs, showing that the Garuda Purana also preserves practical diagnostic knowledge alongside dharma and afterlife teachings.

How does this verse explain the condition being identified?

It lists a cluster of symptoms—dry throat/palate, sweet taste in the mouth, burning in extremities, and ants drawn to urine—presented as markers of an impending meha-gaṇa (group of urinary diseases).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat these as warning signs to seek timely medical evaluation, adopt disciplined diet and lifestyle, and avoid negligence—using early detection as a form of responsible dharma toward one’s body.