Shloka 29

Devanagari script

रूक्षक्लेशक्षयात्याग्निवाता वृतपथेषु / अथ दग्ध्वा शिराजालं योनिकर्म शिरोरुजि (जम् )

Transliteration

rūkṣakleśakṣayātyāgnivātā vṛtapatheṣu / atha dagdhvā śirājālaṃ yonikarma śiroruji (jam )

Translation

In those whose channels (nāḍī) are obstructed due to dryness, strain, depletion, excessive digestive fire, and aggravated vāta—then, having cauterized as needed the network of vessels (śirā-jāla), one should perform yoni-procedures (yoni-karma); this is also indicated in disorders such as headache.

Word by Word

• rūkṣa-kleśa-kṣaya-ati-agni-vātāḥ: dryness, affliction, wasting, excessive digestive fire, and vāta (conditions)
• rūkṣa-kleśa-kṣaya-ati-agni-vātāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kleśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ati (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + vāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (समुच्चय: रूक्षः, क्लेशः, क्षयः, अत्यग्निः, वातः)

• vṛta-patheṣu: in obstructed channels
• vṛta-patheṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √vṛ + kta) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वृताः पथाः = ‘obstructed channels/paths’)

• atha: then/now
• atha: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (discourse particle ‘then/now’)

• dagdhvā: having cauterized/burnt
• dagdhvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dah (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having burnt/cauterized)

• śirā-jālam: the network of veins
• śirā-jālam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śirā (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिराणां जालम् = ‘network of veins’)

• yoni-karmā: a yoni-procedure (gynecological procedure)
• yoni-karmā: Karta (Subject/Instructional topic/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoni (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (योनेः कर्म = ‘procedure relating to the yoni’); विधेय-शेषः (elliptic instruction)

• śiraḥ-ruji: in headache
• śiraḥ-ruji: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + ruj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिरसि रुज् = ‘headache’), ‘शिरोरुजि (रोगे)’

• jam: (unclear reading)
• jam: Anirdharita (Unclear/अनिर्धारित)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ? (पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: पाठभेदे कोष्ठके ‘(jam)’—अस्पष्ट/अनिर्णीत; सम्भवतः ‘जम्’ इति क्षेपक/दोषपाठः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When doṣa and srotas-obstruction become severe, stronger measures (agnikarma/cautery and procedures) may be warranted under expertise.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic compassion—upāya-kauśalya in alleviating duḥkha within embodied life.

Application: For obstructed channels due to dryness/strain/depletion/ati-agni/vāta, consider appropriate cauterization and indicated procedures only with qualified medical authority.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173.28 (taila for depletion); Garuda Purana 1.173.26-27 (doṣa-specific internal measures before escalation)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of srotas (bodily channels) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse frames disease as arising from obstruction of bodily pathways due to dryness, overstrain, depletion, high metabolic fire, and vāta—guiding treatment toward restoring flow and function.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not speak about the soul’s journey; it belongs to the Purana’s medical instruction layer, focusing on bodily causation and therapy rather than preta or yama-loka topics.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes recognizing dryness/depletion and vāta aggravation as systemic patterns; invasive measures like cauterization or specialized reproductive therapies must only be considered under qualified medical supervision.