Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

कालेनोपेक्षितं यत्स्यात्सर्वं कोष्ठानि तद्वपुः / प्रपद्य धातून्बाह्यान्तः सर्वान्संक्लेद्य चावहेत्

Transliteration

kālenopekṣitaṃ yatsyātsarvaṃ koṣṭhāni tadvapuḥ / prapadya dhātūnbāhyāntaḥ sarvānsaṃkledya cāvahet

Translation

Whatever part of the body is neglected over time becomes a seat of ulcers and lesions; entering the tissues, without and within, it moistens and corrupts them all, and then bears them away into decay.

Word by Word

• kālena: by time
• kālena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• upekṣitam: neglected
• upekṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-īkṣ (धातु) + ta (क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'उपेक्षित' = neglected

• yat: which/whatever
• yat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• syāt: would be/is to be
• syāt: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karta/Viśeṣya (Subject/Head)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समस्तवाचक

• koṣṭhāni: viscera/inner cavities
• koṣṭhāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vapuḥ: body
• vapuḥ: Karta/Viśeṣya (Subject/Head)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• prapadya: having reached/entered
• prapadya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-pad (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्, अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund)

• dhātūn: bodily constituents/tissues
• dhātūn: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• bāhya-antaḥ: externally and internally
• bāhya-antaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bāhya (प्रातिपदिक) + antaḥ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययद्वन्द्वः (outside and inside) क्रियाविशेषणम्

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (dhātūn)

• saṃkledya: having moistened/soaked
• saṃkledya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saṃ-klid (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्, अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपातः

• āvahet: would carry/bring forth
• āvahet: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-vah (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect over time allows disorder to establish loci (koṣṭha) and spread through all tissues; sustained care is a duty toward embodied life.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāda (negligence) as a cause of bondage and suffering; disciplined attention (apramāda) supports sattva and wellbeing.

Application: Do not postpone care; maintain routine hygiene, diet, and timely treatment; address small issues before they become systemic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: microcosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: medical counsel emphasizing timely attention to roga; general Purāṇic warnings against pramāda

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of time (kāla) in this Garuda Purana verse?

It states that time, when combined with neglect, becomes a force that deteriorates the body by corrupting the tissues (dhātus), showing the inevitability of physical decline.

How does this verse connect disease to the body’s tissues (dhātus)?

It describes disease as entering both externally and internally, affecting all dhātus by “macerating” them, implying systemic degeneration rather than a superficial problem.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Care for the body with discipline and cleanliness, but remember its impermanence—use health as support for dharma rather than as a source of pride.