Shloka 41

Kuṣṭha-bheda-lakṣaṇa-nidāna and Śvitra (Kilāsa) Prognosis

Devanagari script

स्पर्शैकाहारसंगादिसेवनात्प्रायशो गदाः / एकशय्यासनाच्चैव वस्त्रमाल्यानुलेपनात्

Transliteration

sparśaikāhārasaṃgādisevanātprāyaśo gadāḥ / ekaśayyāsanāccaiva vastramālyānulepanāt

Translation

Krankheiten entstehen meist durch Berührung, durch gemeinsames Essen und enge Gemeinschaft; ebenso durch die Benutzung desselben Bettes und Sitzes sowie durch das Teilen von Kleidung, Blumengirlanden und Salben.

Word by Word

• स्पर्श: touch/contact
• स्पर्श: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• एक: single/one
• एक: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण; समासाङ्ग

• आहार: food/diet
• आहार: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• संग: association/company
• संग: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• आदि: and the like, etc.
• आदि: Sambandha/Relation (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ/आद्यार्थे (etc.)

• सेवनात्: from indulging/using
• सेवनात्: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवन (प्रातिपदिक; √सेव् (धातु) सेवे)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• प्रायशः: generally/mostly
• प्रायशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गदाः: diseases/ailments
• गदाः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• एक: single/one
• एक: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• शय्या: bed
• शय्या: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• आसनात्: from seat/sitting
• आसनात्: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Relation (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• वस्त्र: clothing
• वस्त्र: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• माल्य: garland
• माल्य: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• अनुलेपनात्: from anointing/smearing
• अनुलेपनात्: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक; √लिप् (धातु) लेपने)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

Speaker

Dhanvantari (teaching on causes of disease transmission and conduct)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoidance of disease through restraint in sharing intimate objects and contact (aśauca/śauca-aligned hygiene).

Vedantic Theme: Deha as instrument (sādhana) requiring protection; sattva preserved by śauca and saṃyama.

Application: Do not share food plates, bedding, seats, clothes, garlands, or ointments; maintain personal hygiene and separation during illness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khanda) medical/ayurvedic sections on roga-hetu and śauca; Adjacent chapters on bodily impurities and disease causation

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari

FAQs

What is the importance of this hygiene teaching in the Garuda Purana?

It presents health-preserving restraint as a dharmic practice—avoiding harmful sharing prevents suffering and supports social responsibility.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By implication, it links daily conduct to wellbeing and reduced harm. In Garuda Purana’s broader worldview, responsible living supports good karma and steadiness for spiritual practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid sharing items that transmit illness (food, bedding, clothing, cosmetics/ointments), especially during outbreaks; practice cleanliness and mindful contact.