Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 47

Vidradhi–Gulma Nidāna

Causes and Signs of Abscess and Abdominal Mass

Devanagari script

गुल्मो गभीरः कठिनो गुरुर्गर्भस्थबालवत् / स्वस्थानस्था अधावन्तस्तत एवात्र मारकाः

Transliteration

gulmo gabhīraḥ kaṭhino gururgarbhasthabālavat / svasthānasthā adhāvantastata evātra mārakāḥ

Translation

Ein Gulma (tiefsitzende Bauchgeschwulst) ist tief, hart und schwer — wie ein Fötus, der im Mutterleib liegt. Obwohl er an seinem eigenen Sitz verbleibt, scheint er von dort aus „umherzulaufen“ (sich auszubreiten); daher werden solche Zustände hier tödlich.

Word by Word

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

• गभीरः: deep-seated
• गभीरः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गुल्मस्य)

• कठिनः: hard
• कठिनः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कठिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• गुरुः: heavy
• गुरुः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• गर्भस्थ: situated in the womb
• गर्भस्थ: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (गर्भे स्थितः); प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• बालवत्: like a child
• बालवत्: Visheshana (Simile/उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त; अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः (उपमान-निर्देशः); प्रथमा-एकवचन-तुल्य-विशेषणम्

• स्वस्थानस्थाः: remaining in their own place
• स्वस्थानस्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वस्थाने स्थिताः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अधावन्तः: running about / moving
• अधावन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘अधावन्तः’ = धावन्तः (वर्तमान-कृदन्त-प्रायः प्रयोगः)

• ततः: therefore/from that
• ततः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• अत्र: here/in this case
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• मारकाः: fatal, killing
• मारकाः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गुल्माः/दोषाः इत्यादि)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gulma can be localized yet disseminating; understanding its nature prevents delay and fatal outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāda (negligence) toward the body’s signals leads to suffering; vigilance supports steadiness of mind.

Application: Treat abdominal masses early; do not ignore deep, hard, heavy swellings; seek diagnosis before systemic spread.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.160 (gulma-prakaraṇa: definition and prognosis cues)

Characters & Entities

• Gulma

FAQs

What is the importance of gulma in the Garuda Purana?

Gulma is presented as a serious, deep and hard abdominal condition; the verse highlights its heaviness and dangerous tendency to spread, indicating a grave prognosis.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead it teaches discernment about severe illness—reminding that embodied life is fragile and should be used for dharma and spiritual preparation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

A persistent, hard, deep abdominal lump with heaviness is a red-flag symptom—treat it as urgent and seek qualified medical evaluation (Ayurvedic and/or modern) rather than delaying.