Shloka 21

Devanagari script

अन्ता रूक्षं बहिः स्निग्धमन्तर्घृष्टं रजः किरेत् / श्लक्ष्णस्पर्शं तनु स्निग्धं स्वच्छमस्वेदपुष्पवत्

Transliteration

antā rūkṣaṃ bahiḥ snigdhamantarghṛṣṭaṃ rajaḥ kiret / ślakṣṇasparśaṃ tanu snigdhaṃ svacchamasvedapuṣpavat

Translation

It is dry within yet oily without; when rubbed inside, it scatters dust-like particles. Its touch is smooth; it is thin, slightly unctuous, clear in appearance, like a flower without sweat.

Word by Word

• अन्तः: inside, inwardly
• अन्तः: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = adverb ‘within/inside’

• रूक्षम्: dry, rough
• रूक्षम्: Visheshana (Adjectival complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण = Neuter Nom/Acc sg (predicative)

• बहिः: outside, outwardly
• बहिः: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = adverb ‘outside’

• स्निग्धम्: unctuous, oily, smooth
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Adjectival complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण = Neuter Nom/Acc sg

• अन्तर्घृष्टम्: rubbed within, internally abraded
• अन्तर्घृष्टम्: Visheshana (Adjectival complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + घृष् (धातु) → घृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) = past passive participle ‘rubbed’; समासः = तत्पुरुष (अन्तर्-घृष्ट)

• रजः: dust, powdery matter
• रजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन = Neuter Nom sg

• किरेत्: should scatter, should shed
• किरेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॄ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन = Optative 3rd sg ‘should scatter’

• श्लक्ष्णस्पर्शम्: smooth-touching, having smooth feel
• श्लक्ष्णस्पर्शम्: Visheshana (Adjectival complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः = कर्मधारय (‘smooth to touch’)

• तनु: thin, fine
• तनु: Visheshana (Adjectival complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण = Neuter Nom/Acc sg

• स्निग्धम्: oily, unctuous
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Adjectival complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण = Neuter Nom/Acc sg

• स्वच्छम्: clear, clean
• स्वच्छम्: Visheshana (Adjectival complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण = Neuter Nom/Acc sg

• अस्वेदपुष्पवत्: like a flower without sweat (dry, fresh)
• अस्वेदपुष्पवत्: Visheshana (Simile/उपमा-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + स्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (तुल्यभाव) = ‘like’; समासः = तत्पुरुष (‘non-sweat flower’) + वत्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (सामानाधिकरण्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.164.22-25 (continuation of dermatological lakshana)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What symptom pattern is highlighted in this Garuda Purana verse?

It emphasizes a paradoxical texture—dry inside yet oily outside—plus powdery shedding on rubbing, smooth touch, thinness, and a clear, “sweatless flower-like” appearance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

The verse itself is diagnostic, but within the Garuda Purana’s teaching it supports reflection on embodied suffering as part of lived consequences and an impetus toward dharma and restraint.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat such descriptions as traditional observational categories; apply the ethical takeaway—non-harm, cleanliness, compassion—while seeking modern medical care for any skin disorder.