Shloka 20

Pāṇḍu-Śotha Nidāna: Doṣa-wise Signs, Complications, and Prognosis

Devanagari script

तन्द्रा वा चानलभ्रंशस्तं वदन्ति हलीमकम् / आलस्यञ्चातिभवति तेषां पूर्वमुपद्रवः

Transliteration

tandrā vā cānalabhraṃśastaṃ vadanti halīmakam / ālasyañcātibhavati teṣāṃ pūrvamupadravaḥ

Translation

When drowsiness arises and the digestive fire (agni) declines or fails, that state is called halīmaka. Excessive lethargy then manifests; for such persons these are the preceding disturbances (prodromal troubles).

Word by Word

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

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

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

• अनलभ्रंशः: loss of digestive fire
• अनलभ्रंशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अनलस्य भ्रंशः = loss of digestive fire)

• तम्: that (condition)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वदन्ति: they call/say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हलीमकम्: halīmaka (a disease/condition)
• हलीमकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हलीमक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आलस्यम्: laziness
• आलस्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• अतिभवति: becomes excessive/prevails greatly
• अतिभवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति + भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अति

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

• पूर्वम्: previously/first
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: 'previously/first')

• उपद्रवः: prodrome/complication (preliminary symptom)
• उपद्रवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपद्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognizing pūrvarūpa (prodromal signs) and the centrality of agni (digestive/metabolic fire) in health.

Vedantic Theme: Deha as an instrument; vigilance and discernment (viveka) in maintaining the sādhana-śarīra.

Application: Treat persistent tandrā (drowsiness), ālasya (lethargy), and agni-māndya early with diet-regulation, rest discipline, and timely consultation before complications arise.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.162 (Ayurveda/roga-nidāna section on śotha and agni-māndya)

Characters & Entities

• Agni (digestive fire)
• Halimaka

FAQs

What is halīmaka according to the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, halīmaka is identified by drowsiness (tandrā) together with impaired digestive fire (anala-bhraṃśa), accompanied by marked lethargy.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

The verse is medical rather than eschatological; it supports the broader Purāṇic aim that a disciplined, healthy body sustains dharma, japa, and other spiritual duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If persistent sleepiness and poor digestion appear together, treat them as early warning signs—review diet, sleep, and routine, and seek competent guidance rather than ignoring chronic fatigue.