Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

सर्वे ते मधुमेहाख्या माधुर्याच्च तनोर्यतः / अविपाको ऽरुचिश्छर्दिर्निद्रा कासः सपीनसः

Transliteration

sarve te madhumehākhyā mādhuryācca tanoryataḥ / avipāko 'ruciśchardirnidrā kāsaḥ sapīnasaḥ

Translation

All these are called “madhumeha” (diabetic disorders), arising from the sweetness of the body. There is indigestion, loss of appetite, vomiting, drowsiness, cough, and cough accompanied by catarrh (phlegm).

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मधु-मेह-आख्याः: called ‘madhumeha’
• मधु-मेह-आख्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + मेह (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त; आ+ख्या धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (named/called) सर्वे ते-विशेषण

• माधुर्यात्: from sweetness
• माधुर्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधुर्य (प्रातिपदिक; मधुर + य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तनॊः: of the body
• तनॊः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• यतः: because, since
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु-अव्यय (causal indeclinable: because/since)

• अविपाकः: indigestion/non-digestion
• अविपाकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + विपाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; लक्षण-निर्देश (symptom listing)

• अरुचिः: loss of appetite
• अरुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• छर्दिः: vomiting
• छर्दिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छर्दि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• निद्रा: sleep/drowsiness
• निद्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कासः: cough
• कासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स-पीनसः: with coryza/rhinitis
• स-पीनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थ) + पीनस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सहार्थक-समास (with coryza) कासः-विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Syndromic understanding: madhumeha disorders linked to bodily ‘sweetness’ with systemic signs—digestive, appetite, sleep, and respiratory symptoms.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of bodily systems within prakṛti; suffering (duḥkha) as a prompt for discernment and disciplined living (implicit).

Application: Recognize associated features (indigestion, anorexia, vomiting, somnolence, cough, catarrh) to assess severity/complications and tailor comprehensive care beyond urine signs.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159.8 (sweet urine hallmark); Garuda Purana 1.159.6 (etiology)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of madhumeha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies a group of disorders under “madhumeha” and lists hallmark symptoms, showing the text’s concern with bodily pathology alongside dharma and afterlife teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead it gives a diagnostic description of disease, which in the broader Purana context supports righteous living through health, restraint, and proper conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the listed signs—indigestion, appetite loss, vomiting, excessive sleepiness, cough and phlegm—as a prompt for timely medical care and disciplined diet/lifestyle, aligning bodily well-being with ethical living.