Shloka 16

Devanagari script

ध्वंसकश्लेष्मनिष्ठिवाः कण्ठशोषो ऽतिनिद्रता / शब्दासहत्वं तच्चित्तविक्षेपो ऽङ्गे हि वातरुक्

Transliteration

dhvaṃsakaśleṣmaniṣṭhivāḥ kaṇṭhaśoṣo 'tinidratā / śabdāsahatvaṃ taccittavikṣepo 'ṅge hi vātaruk

Translation

There is wasting and decline, phlegm and spitting, dryness of the throat, excessive sleep, intolerance to sound, and distraction of the mind; and in the limbs there is pain caused by vāta (the wind-humor).

Word by Word

• ध्वंसकश्लेष्मनिष्ठिवाः: destructive phlegm-spitting (expectorations)
• ध्वंसकश्लेष्मनिष्ठिवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वंसक (प्रातिपदिक) + श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (ध्वंसक-श्लेष्म-निष्ठीवाः: destructive phlegm-spitting)

• कण्ठशोषः: dryness of the throat
• कण्ठशोषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + शोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कण्ठस्य शोषः)

• अतिनिद्रता: excessive sleepiness
• अतिनिद्रता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + निद्रता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (अति + निद्रता)

• शब्दासहत्वम्: intolerance to sound
• शब्दासहत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + असहत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शब्दस्य असहत्वम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (that)

• चित्तविक्षेपः: distraction of the mind
• चित्तविक्षेपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चित्तस्य विक्षेपः)

• अङ्गे: in the body/limbs
• अङ्गे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• वातरुक्: vāta-pain (pain due to wind)
• वातरुक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + रुक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वातस्य रुक्)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disordered habits that provoke vāta lead to instability of body and mind; steadiness is a moral and spiritual support.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-vikṣepa (mental distraction) obstructs sādhana; cultivating steadiness supports sattva.

Application: Reduce vāta-aggravating behaviors (irregularity, over-stimulation, intoxicants); prioritize sleep hygiene, warmth, and sensory moderation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.155 (vāta-lakṣaṇa list; intoxication-related pathology)

Characters & Entities

• Vata

FAQs

What is the importance of vāta-related symptoms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists recognizable markers of vāta-aggravation—limb pain, mental restlessness, and sensory intolerance—showing that the Purana also preserves practical diagnostic symptom-lists alongside spiritual instruction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by describing physical and mental afflictions, it highlights how embodied suffering and disturbed mind-states can obstruct clarity and dharmic living, which in turn influences one’s karmic trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cautionary checklist: if dryness, excessive sleep, noise-intolerance, scattered mind, and limb pain dominate, prioritize stabilizing routines, mindful conduct, and appropriate care to restore balance and support dharma.