Shloka 1

Atīsāra (Diarrhoea) and Grahaṇī-doṣa: Causes, Prodromal Signs, Doṣa-wise Symptoms, and Major-Disease Status

Devanagari script

ऽध्यायः धन्वन्तरिरुवाच / अतीसारग्रहण्योश्च निदानं वच्मि सुश्रुत / दोषैर्व्यस्तैः समस्तैश्च भयाच्छोकाच्च षड्विधः

Transliteration

'dhyāyaḥ dhanvantariruvāca / atīsāragrahaṇyośca nidānaṃ vacmi suśruta / doṣairvyastaiḥ samastaiśca bhayācchokācca ṣaḍvidhaḥ

Translation

Dhanvantari said: “O Suśruta, I shall explain the causes of atīsāra (diarrhoea) and of grahaṇī-disorder. It is of six kinds—arising from the doṣas separately or together, and also from fear and from grief.”

Word by Word

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta/Topic (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; शीर्षक/विषय-निर्देश

• धन्वन्तरिः: Dhanvantari
• धन्वन्तरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अतीसारग्रहण्योः: of diarrhea and grahaṇī disorder
• अतीसारग्रहण्योः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतीसार-ग्रहणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (ग्रहणी) / पुंलिङ्ग (अतीसारः) समाहार-द्वन्द्वः; षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन (पाठानुसारं षष्ठी: ‘of’; रूपम्: -योः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निदानम्: cause/etiology
• निदानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• वच्मि: I speak/tell
• वच्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सुश्रुत: O Suśruta
• सुश्रुत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (vocative)

• दोषैः: by the doṣas
• दोषैः: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (करण/हेतु)

• व्यस्तैः: separately
• व्यस्तैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यस्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (separately/individually)

• समस्तैः: together
• समस्तैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (collectively/together)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भयात्: from fear/due to fear
• भयात्: Apadana/Hetu (Source/Cause/अपादान-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (हेतु/अपादान)

• शोकात्: from grief/due to grief
• शोकात्: Apadana/Hetu (Source/Cause/अपादान-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (हेतु/अपादान)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• षड्विधः: sixfold
• षड्विधः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड्-विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (षड् प्रकाराः यस्य)

Speaker

Dhanvantari

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nidāna (etiology) as the basis of right treatment; disorders arise from doṣas and also from psychological causes.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa–śarīra sambandha (mind-body linkage) within prakṛti; knowledge precedes right action.

Application: Assess both physiological doṣa imbalance and emotional triggers (fear, grief) when diagnosing diarrhoea/grahaṇī.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.157.2-3 (dietary and vāta-provoking causes elaborated); Garuda Purana 1.156 (preceding disease-sign discussion)

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari
• Suśruta
• Doṣas (Vāta, Pitta, Kapha)

FAQs

What is the importance of explaining nidāna (causation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the text preserves practical Ayurvedic instruction: knowing nidāna (causes) is the first step to prevention and correct treatment, linking bodily doṣas with mental factors like fear and grief.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey here; instead, it presents a health teaching where psychological states (bhaya, śoka) can directly disturb digestion, reflecting the Purana’s broader concern with right living and wellbeing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat digestive upsets by considering both physiology (doṣa imbalance, diet) and mental stress (fear, grief); calming practices and emotional regulation can be part of prevention alongside appropriate food and routine.