Shloka 23

Devanagari script

दुष्टामान्नैरतिश्लैष्मग्रहैर्जन्मर्क्षपीडनात् / मिथ्यायोगाच्च विविधात्पापानाञ्च निषेवणात् / स्त्रीणां प्रसववैषम्यात्तथा मिथ्योपचारतः

Transliteration

duṣṭāmānnairatiślaiṣmagrahairjanmarkṣapīḍanāt / mithyāyogācca vividhātpāpānāñca niṣevaṇāt / strīṇāṃ prasavavaiṣamyāttathā mithyopacārataḥ

Translation

From eating impure or harmful food, from disorders dominated by excessive phlegm (kapha), from afflictions due to the birth-asterism (nakṣatra), from improper unions of various kinds, from indulgence in diverse sins, from complications in women’s childbirth, and likewise from wrong or misguided treatment—these arise.

Word by Word

• duṣṭa: spoiled
• duṣṭa: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (कृदन्त; √duṣ/दुष् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दुष्ट’ = spoiled

• āma: raw/undigested
• āma: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘आम’ = raw/undigested

• annaiḥ: foods
• annaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ati-ślaiṣma-grahaiḥ: by severe phlegm-afflictions
• ati-ślaiṣma-grahaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ślaiṣma (प्रातिपदिक) + graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘अतिश्लैष्म’ (excess phlegm) + ‘ग्रह’ (seizure/affliction)

• janma-ṛkṣa-pīḍanāt: from affliction by the birth-star
• janma-ṛkṣa-pīḍanāt: Apadana (Source/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janma (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + pīḍana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘जन्मर्क्षस्य पीडनम्’ = affliction by birth-star (nakṣatra)

• mithyā-yogāt: from wrong combination
• mithyā-yogāt: Apadana (Source/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithyā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘मिथ्यायोग’ = wrong conjunction/combination

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• vividhāt: from various (causes)
• vividhāt: Apadana (Source/Cause)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• pāpānām: of sins
• pāpānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधक

• niṣevaṇāt: from indulgence/practice
• niṣevaṇāt: Apadana (Source/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣevaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √sev/सेव् + nis- उपसर्ग + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; क्रियानाम (action-noun) ‘निषेवण’ = indulgence/practice

• strīṇām: of women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• prasava-vaiṣamyāt: from irregularity in childbirth
• prasava-vaiṣamyāt: Apadana (Source/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasava (प्रातिपदिक) + vaiṣamya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘प्रसवे वैषम्यम्’ = irregularity in childbirth

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/अन्वय (also)

• mithyā-upacārataḥ: from wrong treatment
• mithyā-upacārataḥ: Apadana (Source/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mithyā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + upacāra (प्रातिपदिक) + taḥ (तसिल्-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; ‘मिथ्योपचारात्’ = from wrong treatment/management

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Illness arises from impure food, kapha-dominant disorders, astral/asterism afflictions, improper unions, sinful indulgence, obstetric complications, and misguided therapy.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā-driven actions (mithyā-yoga, pāpa) ripple into embodied suffering; right knowledge and right conduct reduce duḥkha.

Application: Maintain food hygiene, moderate kapha-provoking habits, approach sexuality ethically, avoid sinful conduct, ensure skilled maternal care, and avoid quackery.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: medical causation lists including pāpa as nidāna (general); Garuda Purana: sections linking graha/nakṣatra influences with health (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of linking sin and suffering in Garuda Purana?

This verse lists concrete sources of affliction—impure food, bodily humors, astrological factors, misconduct, and wrong treatment—showing how Garuda Purana frames suffering as arising from both lifestyle errors and moral/karma-based causes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By tying sinful indulgence and misconduct to tangible suffering in embodied life, the text underscores that karmic impressions shape one’s lived experience—reinforcing the broader Garuda Purana theme that actions influence future conditions and post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain purity in diet, avoid harmful indulgences and unethical behavior, seek competent medical care, and practice disciplined conduct—so that avoidable suffering caused by wrong choices is reduced.