Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

वातव्याध्यश्मरीकुष्ठमेहोदरभगन्दरम् / अर्शांसि ग्रहणीत्यष्टौ महारोगाः सुदुस्तराः

Transliteration

vātavyādhyaśmarīkuṣṭhamehodarabhagandaram / arśāṃsi grahaṇītyaṣṭau mahārogāḥ sudustarāḥ

Translation

Vāta disorders, urinary stones, kuṣṭha (leprosy/skin disease), prameha (urinary–metabolic disorder), abdominal enlargement/dropsy, bhagandara (fistula-in-ano), hemorrhoids, and grahaṇī—these eight are the great diseases, exceedingly difficult to overcome.

Word by Word

• वात: wind (vāta)
• वात: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (as compound member)

• व्याधि: disease
• व्याधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (as compound member)

• अश्मरी: urinary calculus/stone
• अश्मरी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्मरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (as compound member)

• कुष्ठ: leprosy/skin disease
• कुष्ठ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (as compound member)

• मेह: urinary disorder/diabetes
• मेह: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (as compound member)

• उदर: abdominal disease/dropsy
• उदर: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (as compound member)

• भगन्दरम्: fistula-in-ano
• भगन्दरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन

• अर्शांसि: piles/hemorrhoids
• अर्शांसि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्शस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• ग्रहणी: grahaṇī disease (malabsorption)
• ग्रहणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रहणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (in iti-quotation)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• महारोगाः: great diseases
• महारोगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मह + रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् रोगः)

• सुदुस्तराः: very hard to overcome
• सुदुस्तराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognition of major, hard-to-cure diseases as a call to disciplined living, timely treatment, and humility regarding the body.

Vedantic Theme: Deha-anityatā (impermanence of the body) and duḥkha as a spur toward right conduct and higher aims.

Application: Use the list as a diagnostic ‘red-flag’ set: seek competent care early, avoid causative habits, and cultivate restraint in diet/sex/indulgence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.158.1-4 (urological pathology context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What are the ‘eight mahārogas’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse enumerates them as vāta disorders, stones, kuṣṭha, prameha, udara, bhagandara, arśas, and grahaṇī—classified as severe and hard to cure.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not narrate afterlife events; it emphasizes the gravity of chronic illness, aligning with the Purana’s broader teaching that safeguarding health supports dharma and spiritual practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat these conditions as serious and chronic-risk categories; prioritize early diagnosis, disciplined lifestyle, and sustained treatment rather than waiting for complications.