Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

गन्धवर्णरसस्पर्शेः क्षारेण क्षारतोयवत् / नीलमेहन नीलाभं कालमेही मसीनिभम्

Transliteration

gandhavarṇarasasparśeḥ kṣāreṇa kṣāratoyavat / nīlamehana nīlābhaṃ kālamehī masīnibham

Translation

In smell, color, taste, and touch it is like an alkaline substance—like water mixed with alkali. One who passes blue urine takes on a bluish hue; one afflicted with “kāla-meha,” passing black urine, appears like ink.

Word by Word

• गन्ध-वर्ण-रस-स्पर्शैः: by smell, color, taste, and touch
• गन्ध-वर्ण-रस-स्पर्शैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः (द्वन्द्व): गन्धश्च वर्णश्च रसश्च स्पर्शश्च = by smell, color, taste, and touch

• क्षारेण: with alkali
• क्षारेण: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• क्षार-तोय-वत्: like alkaline water
• क्षार-तोय-वत्: Upamana (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षार (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययवत् उपमान-विशेषण (indeclinable-like adjective): -वत् = ‘like’; समासः (तत्पुरुष): क्षारतोयवत् = like alkaline water

• नील-मेहिन्: a blue-meha patient
• नील-मेहिन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + मेहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): नीलमेही = one having ‘blue-meha’

• नील-आभम्: blue-looking
• नील-आभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier; implied of मूत्रम्/लक्षणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): नीलाभम् = having blue appearance

• काल-मेहिन्: a black-meha patient
• काल-मेहिन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + मेहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): कालमेही = one having ‘black-meha’

• मसी-निभम्: ink-like
• मसी-निभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier; implied of मूत्रम्/लक्षणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मसी (प्रातिपदिक) + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): मसीनिभम् = resembling ink

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriya-pariksha—multi-sensory examination of bodily excretions as a means of knowing disease states.

Vedantic Theme: Prakriti-vikara: changes in guna and dravya manifest as perceivable transformations (implicit).

Application: Attend to sensory qualities of symptoms (odor, color, taste, feel) for early detection and classification; seek care when systemic discoloration appears.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159 (classification of prameha/meha types by mutra-guna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of describing bodily signs like nīlameha and kālameha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses observable bodily changes (urine color and alkaline qualities) as diagnostic/omen-like markers, linking the state of the body to impending suffering and the broader Preta-kāṇḍa theme of consequences and preparedness.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teaching on karma and suffering?

By detailing specific disorders and their outward signs, the text frames physical afflictions as part of the lived experience of karmic fruition, encouraging awareness, restraint, and remedial religious conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat unusual bodily signs seriously (seek medical care), and pair that with ethical living—truthfulness, non-harm, self-control, and sincere prayer/charity—so one reduces causes of suffering and lives with preparedness.