Shloka 39

Kuṣṭha-bheda-lakṣaṇa-nidāna and Śvitra (Kilāsa) Prognosis

Devanagari script

अशुक्लरोमबहुलमसंश्लिष्टं मिथो नवम् / अनग्निदग्धजं साध्यं श्वित्रं वर्ज्यमतो ऽन्यथा

Transliteration

aśuklaromabahulamasaṃśliṣṭaṃ mitho navam / anagnidagdhajaṃ sādhyaṃ śvitraṃ varjyamato 'nyathā

Translation

That śvitra is curable which is new, has abundant hair that is not white, whose patches are not fused together, and which is not produced by burns from fire. Otherwise, it should be avoided as difficult or incurable.

Word by Word

• अशुक्लरोमबहुलम्: having abundant non-white hair
• अशुक्लरोमबहुलम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + रोम (प्रातिपदिक) + बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष—‘अशुक्लं रोम यस्य तत्’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थेऽपि प्रयोगः; सामान्यतः ‘अशुक्ल-रोम-बहुल’ = having abundant non-white hair

• असंश्लिष्टम्: not merged; not confluent
• असंश्लिष्टम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + सम् + श्लिष् (धातु) → संश्लिष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘असंश्लिष्ट’ (not coalesced/ not joined)

• मिथः: mutually; with each other
• मिथः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (परस्परार्थक क्रियाविशेषण)

• नवम्: new; recent
• नवम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनग्निदग्धजम्: arising not from a burn by fire
• अनग्निदग्धजम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + दग्ध (कृदन्त, क्त) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष—‘अग्निना न दग्धं ततः जातम्’

• साध्यम्: curable
• साध्यम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘साध्य’ (curable)

• श्वित्रम्: śvitra (leucoderma)
• श्वित्रम्: Karma/Pratipadyam (That being judged)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• वर्ज्यम्: to be avoided
• वर्ज्यम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु) → वर्ज्य (कृदन्त, यत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विधेय—‘to be avoided’

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (हेतौ/तस्मात्-अर्थे)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prognostic markers: new onset, non-white abundant hair, non-coalescent patches, not burn-induced—these are sādhya; otherwise avoid.

Vedantic Theme: Right discernment (viveka) and non-attachment to outcomes; act within what is treatable.

Application: Use these signs to decide treatability and counsel patients; avoid futile or harmful interventions in poor-prognosis cases.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.164.38 (progressive difficulty); Garuda Purana 1.164.40 (site-based avoidance even if new)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Shvitra

FAQs

Which śvitra is said to be curable according to this verse?

Recent onset, non-confluent patches, presence of abundant non-white hair, and cases not caused by fire-burns are described as treatable.

What does “varjyam anyathā” imply here?

It indicates that cases lacking these favorable signs are traditionally considered unsuitable for treatment or very difficult to cure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages early attention (new cases) and careful classification of cause and features before planning treatment, alongside modern clinical guidance.