Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

पित्तं रक्तमतिक्षीणे कफादौ मूत्रसंश्रयम् / धातुं बस्तिमुपानीय तत्क्षयेच्चैव मारुतः

Transliteration

pittaṃ raktamatikṣīṇe kaphādau mūtrasaṃśrayam / dhātuṃ bastimupānīya tatkṣayeccaiva mārutaḥ

Translation

When pitta (bile) and blood (rakta) are excessively depleted, kapha and the other doṣas take refuge in the urine (urinary system). Bearing the essence of the dhātus into the bladder, maruta (vāta, the vital wind) is also diminished when that essence is wasted.

Word by Word

• पित्तम्: pitta (bile)
• पित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• रक्तम्: blood
• रक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• अतिक्षीणे: when greatly depleted
• अतिक्षीणे: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + क्षीण (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Locative singular; 'when greatly diminished')

• कफ-आदौ: in kapha and the like
• कफ-आदौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (Locative singular; 'in kapha etc.')

• मूत्र-संश्रयम्: having its seat in urine/urinary tract
• मूत्र-संश्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'having urinary seat/abode')

• धातुम्: bodily tissue/element
• धातुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

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

• उपानीय: having brought to
• उपानीय: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-नी (धातु) → उपानीय (कृदन्त; ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (Gerund): 'having brought near/led to'

• तत्-क्षयेत्: then it should diminish that
• तत्-क्षयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षि (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य पाठभेद; क्षयेत् = विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular): 'should diminish'; तत् = नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (that)

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मारुतः: vāta/wind (doṣa)
• मारुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Interdependence of doṣas and dhātus: depletion of pitta/rakta destabilizes the system; loss of essence leads to vāta diminution and dysfunction.

Vedantic Theme: The body’s ‘essence’ is contingent and exhaustible; fosters viveka and non-identification while encouraging right stewardship.

Application: Address bleeding/heat depletion and urinary pathology early; avoid over-depleting regimens; nourish appropriately under guidance; monitor signs of dhātu-kṣaya (fatigue, dryness, weakness).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: anatomical

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159 (continuation of meha/prameha pathogenesis; doṣa-dhātu involvement)

Characters & Entities

• Vata (Maruta)
• Pitta
• Kapha
• Rakta
• Dhatu
• Basti

FAQs

What is the importance of dhātu-kṣaya (tissue depletion) in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse links depletion of vital tissues (dhātu) with systemic imbalance: when pitta and blood decline, other humors shift toward the urinary system, and vāta (maruta) weakens—showing how loss of essence destabilizes the body.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching?

Although Garuda Purana is famous for afterlife and ritual sections, it also preserves dharma-linked health knowledge; here Vishnu explains a technical bodily process (doṣa and dhātu dynamics) as part of instructive, practical wisdom.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat chronic depletion seriously: support blood and tissue nourishment, watch urinary symptoms, and avoid habits that worsen vāta (overexertion, irregular meals, dehydration), ideally with qualified Ayurvedic guidance.