Shloka 16

Prameha-Nidāna-Lakṣaṇa-Bheda: Etiology, Signs, Varieties, and Complications of Meha

Devanagari script

बस्तिमाश्रित्य कुरुते प्रमेहाद्दूषितः कफः / दूषयित्वा वपुः क्लेदं स्वेदमेदोवसामिषम्

Transliteration

bastimāśritya kurute pramehāddūṣitaḥ kaphaḥ / dūṣayitvā vapuḥ kledaṃ svedamedovasāmiṣam

Translation

Kapha, corrupted by prameha (a urinary/metabolic disorder), takes refuge in the bladder; having tainted the body, it vitiates bodily moisture, sweat, fat, marrow, and flesh.

Word by Word

• बस्तिम्: bladder
• बस्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बस्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) → आश्रित्य (कृदन्त; ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (Gerund/absolutive): 'having resorted to'

• कुरुते: does/produces
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Present, 3rd person, Singular; middle voice)

• प्रमेहात्: from prameha (urinary disorder)
• प्रमेहात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative, Singular)

• दूषितः: vitiated/tainted
• दूषितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूष् (धातु) → दूषित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle: 'tainted')

• कफः: kapha (phlegm)
• कफः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• दूषयित्वा: having vitiated
• दूषयित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूष् (धातु) → दूषयित्वा (कृदन्त; क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/absolutive): 'having corrupted'

• वपुः: body
• वपुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• क्लेदम्: moisture/ooze
• क्लेदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• स्वेद-मेदस्-वसा-मिषम्: sweat, fat, adipose, flesh (collectively)
• स्वेद-मेदस्-वसा-मिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वसा (प्रातिपदिक) + मिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; collective dvandva)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disease arises from doṣic corruption and localization; understanding pathogenesis guides restraint and treatment.

Vedantic Theme: Embodiment is impermanent and conditioned; discernment (viveka) about the body supports detachment and responsible care.

Application: Recognize early signs of prameha/kapha aggravation; reduce kapha-increasing diet and sedentary habits; seek appropriate medical guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: anatomical

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159 (meha/prameha nidāna and doṣa-dūṣya discussion across adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Kapha
• Basti
• Prameha

FAQs

What is the importance of prameha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats prameha as a doṣa-driven pathology where vitiated kapha localizes in the bladder and then contaminates multiple bodily tissues, showing the Purana’s Ayurvedic framing of disease causation.

How does this verse explain the mechanism of disease?

It describes a sequence: kapha becomes दूषित (vitiated), settles in the basti (bladder), and then spreads दूषण (contamination) through kleda (morbid moisture), sweat, fat, marrow, and flesh—indicating systemic tissue involvement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to manage kapha-aggravating habits (excess heaviness, inactivity, overly sweet/oily foods) and to treat urinary/metabolic issues early, since the text links them to wider tissue deterioration.