Shloka 8

Devanagari script

उर्ध्वं नासाक्षिकर्णास्यैर्मेढ्रयोनिगुदैरधः / कुपितं रोमकूपैश्च समस्तैस्तत्प्रवर्तते

Transliteration

urdhvaṃ nāsākṣikarṇāsyairmeḍhrayonigudairadhaḥ / kupitaṃ romakūpaiśca samastaistatpravartate

Translation

When that inner affliction/heat becomes aggravated, it courses through all the body’s channels—upward through the nose, eyes, ears, and mouth; downward through the penis, vagina, and anus; and also through every pore of the skin.

Word by Word

• ūrdhvam: upwards
• ūrdhvam: Sambandha (Direction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• nāsā-akṣi-karṇa-āsyaiḥ: through the nose, eyes, ears, and mouth
• nāsā-akṣi-karṇa-āsyaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāsā (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (Neuter, Instrumental plural; 'by/through nose, eyes, ears, and mouth')

• meḍhra-yoni-gudaiḥ: through the genitals and anus
• meḍhra-yoni-gudaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meḍhra (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक) + guda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (Neuter, Instrumental plural; 'by/through penis, vagina, and anus')

• adhaḥ: downwards
• adhaḥ: Sambandha (Direction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• kupitam: agitated
• kupitam: Karma (Object/predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kupita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kup/कुप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) (Neuter Nom/Acc singular; 'agitated/angered')

• romakūpaiḥ: through the hair-pores
• romakūpaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roma-kūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• samastaiḥ: by all (of them)
• samastaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Instrumental plural; 'all/entire')

• tat: that (agitated matter)
• tat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Neuter Nom/Acc singular; 'that/it')

• pravartate: moves/flows forth
• pravartate: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (pravartate)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Understanding pathways of spread (ūrdhva/adho/sarvataḥ via pores) is essential to comprehend disease progression.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti’s guṇa-doṣa dynamics operate through nāḍī/srotas; discernment (viveka) begins with accurate seeing of causality.

Application: When symptoms become systemic (multiple orifices/skin involvement), treat as widespread aggravation; prioritize comprehensive management rather than local fixes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.148 (doṣa-gati/srotas spread description)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily channels described in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights how intense inner distress can pervade the entire embodied system, indicating the comprehensive nature of suffering during the dying process as explained in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul at death?

It describes the movement of an aggravated inner force through sense organs, lower apertures, and pores—showing how the embodied life-force and suffering manifest throughout the body as the transition toward the preta state unfolds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and dharma to reduce causes of agitation, and support end-of-life calm through prayer, remembrance of Vishnu, and appropriate rites that aim to steady the mind and prana.