Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

क्षयायोपेक्षिताः सर्वे बलिनश्चोत्तरोत्तरम् / तेषां भविष्यतां रूपं कण्ठे कण्डूररोचकः

Transliteration

kṣayāyopekṣitāḥ sarve balinaścottarottaram / teṣāṃ bhaviṣyatāṃ rūpaṃ kaṇṭhe kaṇḍūrarocakaḥ

Translation

All of these, though strong at first, when neglected lead gradually toward decline. The form they are destined to assume is marked by itching and an unpleasant affliction in the throat.

Word by Word

• क्षयाय: for (leading to) wasting/consumption
• क्षयाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• उपेक्षिताः: neglected/ignored
• उपेक्षिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपेक्षित (उप+ईक्ष् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• बलिनः: strong (ones)
• बलिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उत्तरउत्तरम्: progressively/more and more
• उत्तरउत्तरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्तर + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'more and more/successively')

• तेषाम्: of those
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• भविष्यताम्: that will occur/ensuing
• भविष्यताम्: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भविष्यत् (भू धातु + शतृ/शानच्-भविष्यत्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; भविष्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (future participle)

• रूपम्: form/manifestation
• रूपम्: Karma/Pratipadyam (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कण्ठे: in the throat
• कण्ठे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• कण्डूररोचकः: itching and loss of appetite (symptom)
• कण्डूररोचकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्डूर + अरोचक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (कण्डूरश्च अरोचकश्च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect (upekṣā) of disease leads to progressive deterioration; early signs should be heeded to prevent kṣaya (decline).

Vedantic Theme: Pramāda (negligence) as a cause of downfall; attentive care (apramāda) preserves the instrument for dharma and sādhanā.

Application: Do not dismiss cough even in strong persons; treat early throat irritation/itching and anorexia-like distaste as warning signs requiring timely intervention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149 (symptom progression of kāsa)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of karmic symptoms like throat affliction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily distress as a visible marker of karmic decline, indicating the soul’s destined condition shaped by prior actions.

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

Within the Preta Kanda framework, it implies that the jīva’s post-death trajectory and next embodiment are not random but unfold progressively according to karma, even reflected through specific sufferings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to correct harmful habits and unethical conduct early—karma ripens progressively—while supporting dharmic living and appropriate ancestral/death rites with sincerity.