Shloka 8

Devanagari script

प्रसेको मुखमाधुर्यं मार्दवं वह्निदे हयोः / लौल्यभावो ऽन्नपानादौ शुचावशुचिवीक्षणम्

Transliteration

praseko mukhamādhuryaṃ mārdavaṃ vahnide hayoḥ / laulyabhāvo 'nnapānādau śucāvaśucivīkṣaṇam

Translation

In one afflicted by the inner fire (agni) there arise drooling, a sweetness in the mouth, and a softening of the body. Restlessness concerning food and drink appears, and he begins to perceive in what he sees both purity and impurity.

Word by Word

• प्रसेकः: salivation, spitting
• प्रसेकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मुखमाधुर्यम्: sweetness of the mouth
• मुखमाधुर्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + माधुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘मुखस्य माधुर्यम्’

• मार्दवम्: softness, tenderness
• मार्दवम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्दव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वह्निदेहयोः: of fire and of the body
• वह्निदेहयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व—‘वह्निश्च देहश्च’ (of fire and body)

• लौल्यभावः: restlessness, fickleness
• लौल्यभावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लौल्यम् (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘लौल्यस्य भावः’

• अन्नपानादौ: in food and drink, etc.
• अन्नपानादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (अन्न+पान) ततः ‘आदि’ सह—‘अन्नपाने च आदौ’ (in food, drink, etc.)

• शुचौ: in the pure/clean
• शुचौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘शुचि’ = शुद्धस्थान/शुद्धवस्तु (in cleanliness/pure things)

• अशुचिवीक्षणम्: seeing/looking at the impure
• अशुचिवीक्षणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक) + वीक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः—‘अशुचेः वीक्षणम्’ (looking at impure things)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Agni-affliction manifests in oral changes, bodily laxity, food-restlessness, and altered discrimination of śuci/aśuci—showing how physiological imbalance affects cognition and perception.

Vedantic Theme: Mind-body linkage: antaḥkaraṇa clarity depends on balanced prāṇa/agni; impaired discrimination (viveka) can arise from bodily disturbance.

Application: Stabilize digestive fire and routine; avoid chasing cravings; when perception feels erratic, simplify diet and re-establish cleanliness and regularity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.152 (agni/inner fire disturbance and symptomatology; śuci-aśuci perception shift)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of these bodily signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists observable changes—salivation, altered taste, softness/weakness, cravings, and heightened sense of purity/impurity—as indicators of inner distress that can accompany karmic fruition and the approach of transition.

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

By noting pre-death disturbances in the body and mind, it frames death as a karmically governed transition: the subtle tendencies (craving, agitation, aversion) intensify, shaping the person’s final mental state that influences the onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use such signs as prompts for steadiness—reduce compulsive craving, practice cleanliness and discernment without obsession, and turn attention to prayer, repentance, charity, and remembrance of Vishnu to stabilize the mind.