Shloka 27

Devanagari script

सन्धिमर्मसु जायन्ते मांसलेषु च धामसु / अन्तोन्नता मध्यनिन्मा अक्लेदसुरुजान्विता

Transliteration

sandhimarmasu jāyante māṃsaleṣu ca dhāmasu / antonnatā madhyaninmā akledasurujānvitā

Translation

They arise at the joints and at the vital points (marma), and also in the fleshy regions of the body. Raised at the ends and depressed in the middle, they are dry, without moisture, and attended by slight pain.

Word by Word

• सन्धि-मर्मसु: in joint-vital spots
• सन्धि-मर्मसु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + मर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): सन्धिमर्म = joints and vital points (junction-vitals)

• जायन्ते: arise
• जायन्ते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘are born/arise’

• मांसलेषु: in fleshy (places)
• मांसलेषु: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (contextual), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of धामसु)

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

• धामसु: in places/regions
• धामसु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘स्थानेषु’ (in regions/places)

• अन्तः-उन्नताः: raised within
• अन्तः-उन्नताः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied पिडिकाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + उन्नत (कृदन्त, √नम्/√उन्नम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव: अन्तः उन्नताः = raised in the middle/inside

• मध्य-निम्नाः: sunken in the middle
• मध्य-निम्नाः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied पिडिकाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयभाव): मध्यनिम्नाः = depressed in the middle

• अक्लेद-सुरुज-अन्विताः: accompanied by dryness and pain
• अक्लेद-सुरुज-अन्विताः: Visheshana (Qualifier of implied पिडिकाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्लेद (प्रातिपदिक) + सुरुज (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त, √इ/√अन्वि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष): अक्लेदेन (non-oozing/dry) सुरुजेन (good/acute pain) च अन्विताः = accompanied by dryness and pain

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Roga-rupa and sthana—disease is known by location (sandhi/marma/māṃsa) and form (raised edges, central depression, dryness, mild pain).

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as kshetra: observable modifications in the field of the body (implicit).

Application: Track lesion distribution and morphology to distinguish types and severity; protect marma regions and seek treatment when lesions appear near joints/vital spots.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159 (pidika/vrana-like descriptions in the same medical section)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of marma (vital points) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that certain bodily features manifest specifically around joints and marma points, implying these regions are structurally and sensitively significant in embodiment.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey or embodiment teachings?

Rather than describing post-death travel directly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader framework: the jīva takes on a body with specific vulnerable and sensitive loci (joints/marmas), shaping lived experience and suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the body—especially joints and sensitive points—with care and restraint; cultivate disciplined living (ācāra) that reduces harm and pain, aligning with dharmic self-care.