Shloka 24

Nidāna of Vātarakta and Āvaraṇa of Vāyu; Doṣa-wise Lakṣaṇas and Triphalā-Yoga Remedies

Devanagari script

कुष्ठं विसर्पमन्यच्च कुर्यात् सर्वाङ्गसादनम् / समानो विषमाजीर्णशीतसङ्कीर्णभोजनैः

Transliteration

kuṣṭhaṃ visarpamanyacca kuryāt sarvāṅgasādanam / samāno viṣamājīrṇaśītasaṅkīrṇabhojanaiḥ

Translation

Likewise, Samāna—the vital wind that governs digestion—is disturbed by irregular, undigested, cold, and discordantly mixed foods; it then gives rise to kuṣṭha (leprosy), visarpa (spreading skin disease), other ailments, and a general wasting or heaviness of the whole body.

Word by Word

• कुष्ठं: leprosy/skin disease
• कुष्ठं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विसर्पम्: erysipelas/spreading skin disease
• विसर्पम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विसर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अन्यत्: other (ailment)
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'other' (qualifies implied रोगम्)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कुर्यात्: would cause/produces
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सर्वाङ्गसादनम्: weakening of the whole body
• सर्वाङ्गसादनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + सादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) = सर्वेषाम् अङ्गानां सादनम् (weakening of all limbs)

• समानः: Samāna (vital wind)
• समानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वायुविशेषः (a type of vital wind)

• विषम: irregular
• विषम: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (irregular/uneven)

• अजीर्ण: indigestions
• अजीर्ण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग (indigestion)

• शीत: cold
• शीत: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (cold)

• सङ्कीर्ण: mixed
• सङ्कीर्ण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सङ्कीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (mixed)

• भोजनैः: by such foods/diets
• भोजनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) = विषम-अजीर्ण-शीत-सङ्कीर्ण-भोजनैः (by foods that are irregular/indigestible/cold/mixed)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Samāna-vāyu (digestive regulator) is disturbed by incompatible and irregular food; disease follows from adharma of eating.

Vedantic Theme: Right use of the body as a means for purushartha; negligence of ahara-vihara binds one to duhkha.

Application: Adopt regular meals, avoid cold/discordant combinations, eat only after prior meal is digested, and favor compatible, warm, simple foods.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.167 (Samana-vayu and ahara causes)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Samāna
• Vāyu (Prāṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of Samāna in Garuda Purana?

Samāna is presented as the regulator of digestion; when diet is irregular or incompatible, systemic disease follows, underscoring food-discipline as a dharmic health practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By teaching restraint and purity in consumption, it supports the Purāṇic ethic that disciplined living refines the subtle body and reduces suffering—principles aligned with spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep meals regular, avoid eating when indigestion is present, reduce excessive cold/mixed incompatible foods, and prioritize digestibility to maintain energy and stability.