Shloka 16

Arśa-nidāna: Causes, Prodrome, Doṣa-types, and Complications of Hemorrhoids

Devanagari script

जायन्तेर्ऽशांसितु तत्पूर्वं लक्षणं वह्निमन्दता / विष्टम्भः सास्थिसदनं पिण्डि (ष्ट) कोद्वेष्टनं भ्रमः

Transliteration

jāyanter'śāṃsitu tatpūrvaṃ lakṣaṇaṃ vahnimandatā / viṣṭambhaḥ sāsthisadanaṃ piṇḍi (ṣṭa) kodveṣṭanaṃ bhramaḥ

Translation

Before piles (hemorrhoids) manifest, the prior signs are: a weakening of digestive fire, constipation and abdominal obstruction, aching in the joints and bones, twisting pain around the region of the pelvic lump/anus, and dizziness.

Word by Word

• jāyante: arise/are produced
• jāyante: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• aśāṃsitu: but (undesirable)
• aśāṃsitu: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aśāṃsi (प्रातिपदिक) + tu (अव्यय)
• Form: पाठभेद/सन्ध्यन्त; 'aśāṃsi' (नपुंसक बहुवचन प्रथमा/द्वितीया) + 'tu' (निपात). अर्थतः: 'not desirable, but'

• tat: that
• tat: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (stem form)

• pūrvam: before/previously
• pūrvam: Avyaya (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• lakṣaṇam: symptom/sign
• lakṣaṇam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; (here: predicate/subject 'sign')

• vahni: fire (digestive fire)
• vahni: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (stem form)

• mandatā: slowness/weakness
• mandatā: Karta (Predicate nominative/प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनम्

• viṣṭambhaḥ: constipation/obstruction
• viṣṭambhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṭambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनम्

• sa: with
• sa: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश पूर्वपद; 'with' (in compound)

• asthi: bone
• asthi: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (stem form)

• sadanam: weakening/ache
• sadanam: Karta (Listed symptom/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; 'falling/weakening'

• piṇḍiṣṭa: lump-like mass
• piṇḍiṣṭa: Karta (Listed symptom/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piṇḍiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; uncertain reading)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; पाठभेद: 'piṇḍiṣṭa/piṇḍika' (lump-like mass)

• udveṣṭanam: twisting pain
• udveṣṭanam: Karta (Listed symptom/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udveṣṭana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; 'twisting/colic'

• bhramaḥ: dizziness
• bhramaḥ: Karta (Listed symptom/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowing pūrvarūpa (prodromal signs) enables prevention; right knowledge reduces suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa in practical life: accurate observation (yathārtha-jñāna) supports right action; care of the body aids higher pursuits.

Application: Monitor digestive fire (appetite), bowel regularity, joint aches, pelvic/anorectal twisting pain, and dizziness; intervene early with diet/regimen and medical consultation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.156 (arśas pūrvarūpa and agni-mandya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of digestive fire (vahni/Agni) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse treats weakened digestion (vahnimandatā) as an early warning sign—when Agni declines, systemic imbalance appears, prompting timely care and religious preparedness.

How does this verse fit into the Garuda Purana’s teaching on death-omens and readiness?

It lists bodily pre-signs (lakṣaṇa) that arise before a serious condition manifests, aligning with the text’s broader aim: recognize decline early and perform appropriate discipline, remedies, and rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat persistent मंदाग्नि, constipation, twisting pelvic pain, and dizziness as signals to seek medical attention early and also to cultivate daily discipline—diet, conduct, prayer, and preparedness for life’s uncertainties.