Shloka 17

Vidradhi–Gulma Nidāna

Causes and Signs of Abscess and Abdominal Mass

Devanagari script

आमपक्वविदग्धत्वं तेषां शोथवदादिशेत् / नाभेरूर्ध्वमुखात्पक्वात्प्रद्रवन्त्यपरे गुदात्

Transliteration

āmapakvavidagdhatvaṃ teṣāṃ śothavadādiśet / nābherūrdhvamukhātpakvātpradravantyapare gudāt

Translation

One should diagnose in them the states of ‘āma’ (undigested), ‘pakva’ (ripened/suppurated), and ‘vidagdha’ (burnt/acidified), along with swelling. In some cases, when it is ‘pakva’, the discharge flows from the navel through an upward-facing opening; in others, it flows from the anus.

Word by Word

• आम-पक्व-विदग्धत्वम्: the states of being raw, cooked, and burnt/overcooked
• आम-पक्व-विदग्धत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विदग्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (आमत्वं पक्वत्वं विदग्धत्वं च)

• तेषाम्: of those (patients/conditions)
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• शोथवत्: as in swelling; swelling-like
• शोथवत्: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोथवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable-like adjective); उपमानार्थ ‘शोथयुक्तवत्/as if with swelling’

• आदिशेत्: should indicate/diagnose
• आदिशेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नाभेः: from the navel
• नाभेः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्व-मुखात्: from the upper opening
• ऊर्ध्व-मुखात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (ऊर्ध्वं मुखं यस्य/upper opening)

• पक्वात्: from the cooked (abscess)
• पक्वात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• प्रद्रवन्ति: flow out; run forth
• प्रद्रवन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘others’

• गुदात्: from the anus/rectum
• गुदात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge distinguishes stages of pathology; naming and discerning conditions is the first step to remedy.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) applied to embodied experience; clarity reduces fear and error.

Application: Assess whether the condition is āma (undigested), pakva (ripened), or vidagdha (acidified/burnt) with swelling; note discharge route (navel/upward opening vs anus) for prognosis and treatment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.160.16 (preceding symptom cluster); Garuda Purana 1.160.18–19 (vidradhi features and complications)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Āma
• Vāta/Pitta (implied by vidagdha)

FAQs

What do āma, pakva, and vidagdha mean in this Garuda Purana verse?

They describe stages/qualities of pathology: āma (undigested toxic state), pakva (matured/suppurated state), and vidagdha (burnt/overheated, often pitta-like irritation), often accompanied by swelling.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By portraying severe bodily breakdown, it encourages timely dharmic action—confession, charity, mantra, and settling duties—so the mind turns sattvic at life’s vulnerable edge.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize that chronic inflammation can progress through stages; respond early with proper medical care and a disciplined lifestyle rather than waiting for ‘matured’ complications.