Shloka 13

Kāsa-bheda: The Fivefold Classification of Cough and Its Clinical Signs

Devanagari script

दुः खस्पर्शेन शूलेन भेदपीडाहितापिना / पर्वभेदज्वरश्वासतृष्णावैस्वर्यकम्पवान्

Transliteration

duḥ khasparśena śūlena bhedapīḍāhitāpinā / parvabhedajvaraśvāsatṛṣṇāvaisvaryakampavān

Translation

Afflicted by painful contact and stabbing torment—by splitting aches and burning fever—he suffers joint-rending pains, fever, laboured breathing, thirst, loss of voice, and trembling.

Word by Word

• दुःख: painful
• दुःख: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; विशेषण (qualifying स्पर्शेन)

• स्पर्शेन: by touch/contact
• स्पर्शेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण

• शूलेन: by pain/colic
• शूलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण

• भेद: splitting, piercing
• भेद: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• पीडा: torment, pain
• पीडा: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• आहित: placed/produced
• आहित: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + धा (धातु) → आहित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• आपिना: with afflicting pain
• आपिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषण-समास (भेद-पीडा-आहित-आपिन् = having pain caused by splitting/torment)

• पर्व: joint
• पर्व: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• भेद: splitting pain
• भेद: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• ज्वर: fever
• ज्वर: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• श्वास: dyspnea, breathlessness
• श्वास: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• तृष्णा: thirst
• तृष्णा: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• वैस्वर्य: hoarseness, loss of voice
• वैस्वर्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैस्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद; (in compound)

• कम्पवान्: having tremor
• कम्पवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्पवत् (प्रातिपदिक; कम्प + वत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुपद-समाससमाहार-विशेषण (having tremor along with the listed symptoms)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multi-doṣic systemic crisis: śūla (pain), dāha (burning), jvara (fever), śvāsa (dyspnea), tṛṣṇā (thirst), vaisvarya (hoarseness/voice loss), kampa (tremor).

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra-duḥkha and the need for right living; body as instrument requiring care, not identity.

Application: Recognize red-flag cluster (fever + dyspnea + tremor + voice loss + severe pain) and seek urgent treatment; supportive care: hydration, rest, cooling/anti-inflammatory measures per physician.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149 (systemic symptom culmination; doṣa aggravation leading to jvara/śvāsa/tṛṣṇā)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing pain and ailments in the Garuda Purana?

This verse itemizes specific torments (pain, fever, thirst, breathlessness, trembling) to illustrate the tangible consequences of karma and the distress of the post-death condition described in the text.

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

It portrays the being’s experience as marked by intense sensory and bodily afflictions, reflecting the Garuda Purana’s narrative that the post-death journey includes suffering shaped by one’s actions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a prompt for ethical restraint and compassionate conduct—reducing harmful actions (pāpa) that the tradition links with painful post-mortem consequences, and encouraging mindful living and dharmic choices.