Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44

Vidradhi–Gulma Nidāna

Causes and Signs of Abscess and Abdominal Mass

Devanagari script

पिपीलिकाव्याप्त इव गुल्मः स्फुरति नुद्यते / पित्ताद्दाहाम्लकौ मूर्छा विड्भेदः स्वेदतृड्ज्वराः

Transliteration

pipīlikāvyāpta iva gulmaḥ sphurati nudyate / pittāddāhāmlakau mūrchā viḍbhedaḥ svedatṛḍjvarāḥ

Translation

Der Gulma pocht und sticht, als wäre er von Ameisen durchwimmelt. Aus pitta entstehen Brennen und Säure, Ohnmacht, Durchfall, Schweiß, Durst und Fieber.

Word by Word

• पिपीलिका-व्याप्तः: pervaded by ants
• पिपीलिका-व्याप्तः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिपीलिका (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याप्त (कृदन्त; √व्याप् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (ants-pervaded)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय

• गुल्मः: gulma (abdominal mass)
• गुल्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्फुरति: throbs; quivers
• स्फुरति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्फुर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नुद्यते: is pushed/pressed; is driven
• नुद्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पित्तात्: from pitta; due to bile
• पित्तात्: Hetu/Reason (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause)

• दाह-अम्लकौ: burning and sourness
• दाह-अम्लकौ: Sambandha (Item in list/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्लक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (burning and sourness)

• मूर्छा: fainting
• मूर्छा: Sambandha (Item in list/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विड्भेदः: loose stools; diarrhea
• विड्भेदः: Sambandha (Item in list/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विड् (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (breaking/looseness of stool)

• स्वेद-तृट्-ज्वराः: sweating, thirst, fevers
• स्वेद-तृट्-ज्वराः: Sambandha (Item in list/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + तृट् (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (sweat, thirst, fevers)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Doṣa-bheda: pitta-janya gulma marked by dāha, āmlaka, mūrcchā, atisāra, sveda, tṛṣṇā, jvara.

Vedantic Theme: Tejas out of balance becomes duḥkha; moderation and sattvic regulation are implied as harmonizing principles.

Application: Recognize pitta flare: burning + thirst + sweating + diarrhea; prioritize cooling, hydration, and medical care; avoid sour/spicy/alcohol and heat exposure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.160: pitta symptom cluster contrasted with vāta/kapha signs in surrounding verses

Characters & Entities

• Pitta

FAQs

What is the importance of pitta in Garuda Purana?

This verse lists classic pitta-driven disorders—burning, acidity, thirst, fever—showing how the Purana maps suffering to specific bodily fires and imbalances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By cataloging bodily suffering, it sets a contrast with the soul’s continuity; the narrative often uses such teaching to encourage dharmic living and mindful care of the body as an instrument.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If pitta-like signs (burning, acidity, excessive heat, feverishness) appear, prioritize cooling, moderation, and timely care rather than aggravating heat through extremes.