Shloka 13

Devanagari script

चेष्टमानस्ततः क्लिष्टो मनोदेहप्रमोहवान् / दुष्प्रबोधो ऽश्नुते निद्रां सो ऽग्निवीसर्प उच्यते

Transliteration

ceṣṭamānastataḥ kliṣṭo manodehapramohavān / duṣprabodho 'śnute nidrāṃ so 'gnivīsarpa ucyate

Translation

Thereupon he tosses about, distressed and bewildered in mind and body; hard to rouse, he falls into sleep. This condition is called agni-vīsarpa, the affliction that “spreads like fire”.

Word by Word

• चेष्टमानः: struggling, moving about
• चेष्टमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चेष्टमान (कृदन्त; √चेष्ट् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्) आत्मनेपदी अर्थः ‘struggling/moving about’

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनन्तरम्/तस्मात्

• क्लिष्टः: afflicted, distressed
• क्लिष्टः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लिष्ट (कृदन्त; √क्लिश् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• मनस्: mind
• मनस्: Samasa-member (Compound component/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• देह: body
• देह: Samasa-member (Compound component/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• प्रमोहवान्: having delusion of mind and body
• प्रमोहवान्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमोह (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘मनस्-देह-प्रमोह-वान्’ = मनसः देहस्य च प्रमोहः यस्य (तत्पुरुष-समास)

• दुष्प्रबोधः: hard to awaken
• दुष्प्रबोधः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रबोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘दुस्-प्रबोधः’ = दुर्विबोध्यः (hard to awaken)

• अश्नुते: attains/experiences
• अश्नुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• निद्राम्: sleep
• निद्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सः: that (one/condition)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अग्नि: fire
• अग्नि: Samasa-member (Compound component/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• वीसर्पः: fire-like erysipelas
• वीसर्पः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीसर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘अग्नि-वीसर्पः’ = अग्निवत् दाहयुक्तः वीसर्पः (तत्पुरुष)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nosological identification: the cluster of agitation, moha, and stuporous sleep defines agni-vīsarpa.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa: naming patterns of experience to reduce confusion; discernment amid suffering.

Application: Use symptom cluster to classify subtype (agni-vīsarpa) and guide targeted cooling/anti-pitta measures with vigilant monitoring.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.163 (subtype designation: agni-vīsarpa)

Characters & Entities

• Agni (as ‘agni’ in agni-vīsarpa)

FAQs

What is the importance of agni-vīsarpa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines agni-vīsarpa through observable signs—restlessness, distress, mind-body confusion, and difficulty in awakening—showing the Purana’s diagnostic style in its Ayurvedic section.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey here; instead, it focuses on bodily and mental symptoms, reflecting the Garuda Purana’s inclusion of practical health and doṣa-based teachings alongside afterlife topics.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat persistent delirium-like confusion, disturbed sleep, and severe restlessness as warning signs and seek timely care; the verse emphasizes recognizing symptom patterns early.