Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

विस्त्रं माञ्जिष्ठमेहेच मञ्जिष्ठा सलिलोपमम् / विस्त्रमुष्णं सलवणं रक्ताभ रक्तमेहतः

Transliteration

vistraṃ māñjiṣṭhameheca mañjiṣṭhā salilopamam / vistramuṣṇaṃ salavaṇaṃ raktābha raktamehataḥ

Translation

In vistra-meha, the urine takes a hue like mañjiṣṭhā (madder), resembling a reddish infusion; in another form it becomes hot and saline. In raktameha, the urine appears blood-colored, as though blood were being passed.

Word by Word

• विस्त्रम्: thin / watery (as reading 'vistra')
• विस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (acc sg)

• माञ्जिष्ठमेहे: in māñjiṣṭha-meha (madder-type prameha)
• माञ्जिष्ठमेहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माञ्जिष्ठ + मेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (माञ्जिष्ठः मेहः) (loc sg: in māñjiṣṭha-meha)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (and)

• मञ्जिष्ठा: madder (rubia)
• मञ्जिष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मञ्जिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nom sg)

• सलिल-उपमम्: like water
• सलिल-उपमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिल + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सलिलस्य उपमम् = like water) (acc sg)

• विस्त्रम्: thin / watery
• विस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (acc sg)

• उष्णम्: hot
• उष्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (acc sg)

• स-लवणम्: salty
• स-लवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्गसदृश) + लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—कर्मधारय (लवणं सह = salty) (acc sg)

• रक्ताभ: reddish
• रक्ताभ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (रक्तस्य आभा यस्य = reddish)

• रक्तमेहतः: from raktameha
• रक्तमेहतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रक्तमेह (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: तद्धितान्त-अव्ययम्; हेत्वर्थे/उत्पत्त्यर्थे (from raktameha)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rūpa (manifest signs) of prameha subtypes: mañjiṣṭhā-like reddish urine, hot/saline urine, and raktameha with blood-colored urine.

Vedantic Theme: Perception of qualities (rasa/varṇa/guṇa) as valid indicators within prakṛti; discerning change to prevent suffering.

Application: Treat reddish, hot, or saline urine as significant markers; consider urgency when urine appears blood-like and seek appropriate intervention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159.1-2 (classification and haridrā-meha); Garuda Purana 1.159.4 (vasā/mejjā features)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of describing ailments like vistra and raktameha in the Garuda Purana?

Such descriptions function as karmic signposts—showing how specific misdeeds can mature into concrete suffering, reinforcing ethical restraint and purification.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and Yama’s justice?

In the Garuda Purana’s framework, bodily afflictions mirror past actions; these signs support the broader narrative of moral causality that continues through Yama’s judgment after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat health and conduct as linked: avoid harm and dishonesty, practice cleanliness and self-control, and use the teaching as motivation for dharmic living and corrective rituals when appropriate.