Shloka 17

Madātyaya Nidāna and Lakṣaṇa: Liquor’s Qualities, Tridoṣa Presentations, and Fainting Signs

Devanagari script

हृत्कण्ठरोगः संमोहः श्वासतृष्णावमिज्वराः / निवर्तेद्यस्तु मद्येभ्यो जितात्मा बुद्धिपूर्वकृत्

Transliteration

hṛtkaṇṭharogaḥ saṃmohaḥ śvāsatṛṣṇāvamijvarāḥ / nivartedyastu madyebhyo jitātmā buddhipūrvakṛt

Translation

Heart and throat ailments, delusion, breathlessness, intense thirst, vomiting, and fevers subside for the one who turns away from intoxicating drinks—self-controlled and acting with deliberate understanding.

Word by Word

• हृत्कण्ठरोगः: disease of heart and throat
• हृत्कण्ठरोगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (हृदः कण्ठस्य च रोगः/हृत्कण्ठयोः रोगः)

• संमोहः: stupor, confusion
• संमोहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संमोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्वासतृष्णावमिज्वराः: breathlessness, thirst, vomiting, and fevers
• श्वासतृष्णावमिज्वराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + तृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक) + वमि (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (श्वासश्च तृष्णा च वमिश्च ज्वराश्च)

• निवर्तेत्: should desist, should turn away
• निवर्तेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विधिः (should desist/turn back)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: indeed, however
• तु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• मद्येभ्यः: from alcoholic drinks
• मद्येभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), बहुवचन; अपादान (from liquors)

• जितात्मा: self-controlled (one whose self is conquered)
• जितात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (√जि + क्त, कृदन्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य आत्मा जितः सः)

• बुद्धिपूर्वकृत्: acting with forethought, deliberate
• बुद्धिपूर्वकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (√कृ + क्विप्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (बुद्ध्या पूर्वं कृतवान्/कृतः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Turning away from intoxicants through jitātmatā (self-control) and buddhi (deliberate understanding) removes afflictions.

Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-niścaya and dama (sense-restraint) purify the mind, enabling higher pursuit (bhakti/jñāna).

Application: Commit to abstinence or cessation with clear intention, support, and disciplined routine; observe symptom reduction as reinforcement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.155 (cessation of madya as remedy; symptom reversal)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding alcohol (madya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents abstaining from intoxicants as a dharmic act of self-mastery that restores clarity and reduces multiple physical and mental afflictions.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on karma and suffering?

By linking intoxication with delusion and illness, the verse frames restraint and buddhi-led choices as practical means to lessen suffering that can arise from harmful habits and their karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindful abstinence or strict moderation, prioritize clear judgment (buddhi), and cultivate self-control (jitātmā) to protect health, decision-making, and ethical conduct.