Shloka 14

Śvāsa-nidāna: Etiology, Types, Symptom Progression, and Fatal Prognosis

Devanagari script

महातामहता दीनो नादेन श्वसिति क्रथन् / उद्धूयमानः संरब्धो मत्तर्षभ इवानिशम्

Transliteration

mahātāmahatā dīno nādena śvasiti krathan / uddhūyamānaḥ saṃrabdho mattarṣabha ivāniśam

Translation

Overwhelmed by dense darkness, the wretched one breathes with a loud sound, panting and heaving; tossed about and agitated, he rages ceaselessly like an intoxicated bull.

Word by Word

• महातामहता: by great darkness (deep stupor)
• महातामहता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातामस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘महातामहता’ = महातामसा (करणे)

• दीनः: miserable
• दीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नादेन: with a sound/noise
• नादेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• श्वसिति: breathes
• श्वसिति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्रथन्: trembling, gasping
• क्रथन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रथ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘क्रथन्’ = कम्पमानः/व्याकुलः

• उद्धूयमानः: being heaved up, panting
• उद्धूयमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + धू (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/Passive-present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘उद्धूयमान’ = उच्छ्वसन्/उत्क्षिप्यमाणः

• संरब्धः: agitated, enraged
• संरब्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + रभ् (धातु) → संरब्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्तार्थ (agitated/enraged)

• मत्तर्षभः: a maddened bull
• मत्तर्षभः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मत्तः ऋषभः)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (Comparison marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• अनिशम्: constantly, without pause
• अनिशम्: Adhikarana (Adverbial locus/time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनिशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At death, the mind-body complex is shaken; one’s saṃskāras and karmic momentum surface as agitation or fear.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra-vāsanā-prābalya at antakāla; need for sattva and remembrance to avoid tamasic collapse.

Application: Cultivate daily sādhana (japa, śānti, ethical living) so the mind is trained before the crisis of dying.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.150 (series of death-signs)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing darkness and agitation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the psychological and subtle-body distress of the departed in the preta-state, emphasizing that unresolved karma produces fear, confusion, and agitation after death.

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

It depicts an intermediate condition where the being, overwhelmed by tamas (darkness), experiences loud, strained breathing and restless agitation—signs of suffering before stability or onward passage is attained.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and clarity (reduce tamas through ethical conduct and sattvic habits) and, where culturally followed, support the departed with appropriate śrāddha/pinda-related rites and prayerful remembrance.