Shloka 3

Roganidāna: Definitions, Fivefold Diagnostic Method, and Doṣa-wise Causes

Devanagari script

निदानं पूर्वरूपाणि रूपाण्युपशयस्तथा / संप्राप्तिश्चैति विज्ञानं रोगाणां पञ्चधा स्मृतम्

Transliteration

nidānaṃ pūrvarūpāṇi rūpāṇyupaśayastathā / saṃprāptiścaiti vijñānaṃ rogāṇāṃ pañcadhā smṛtam

Translation

El conocimiento científico de las enfermedades se recuerda como quíntuple: nidāna (causa), pūrvarūpa (signos premonitorios), rūpa (síntomas manifiestos), upaśaya (factores que alivian o agravan) y saṃprāpti (curso de la patogénesis).

Word by Word

• nidānam: cause (diagnostic cause)
• nidānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• pūrva-rūpāṇi: premonitory signs
• pūrva-rūpāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• rūpāṇi: symptoms; forms
• rūpāṇi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• upaśayaḥ: alleviating factors; therapeutic test
• upaśayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upaśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tathā: and also; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction)

• saṃprāptiḥ: pathogenesis; full development
• saṃprāptiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃprāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle) — इत्येवम्

• vijñānam: knowledge; diagnostic understanding
• vijñānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• rogāṇām: of diseases
• rogāṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• pañcadhā: in five ways
• pañcadhā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañcan (संख्या) + dhā (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — प्रकारवाचकः ‘पञ्च प्रकारेण’

• smṛtam: is remembered/said
• smṛtam: Kriya (Predicate participle/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘स्मृतम्’ = कथितम्/उक्तम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disease-knowledge is fivefold: nidāna, pūrvarūpa, rūpa, upaśaya, saṃprāpti—an epistemic method for correct diagnosis and treatment.

Vedantic Theme: From lakṣaṇa to kāraṇa: disciplined inquiry moves from signs to causes and process; mirrors the broader pursuit of truth via ordered pramāṇa.

Application: Use a checklist approach: identify causes, note prodromes, record symptoms, test relieving/aggravating factors, and infer pathogenesis before choosing therapy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.146 onward: elaborations on nidāna, pūrvarūpa, rūpa, upaśaya, saṃprāpti

FAQs

What is the importance of the fivefold disease-knowledge (nidāna–saṃprāpti) in the Garuda Purana?

It provides a complete diagnostic lens—cause, early indicators, full symptoms, what relieves/worsens, and how the disease develops—so treatment and conduct can be aligned intelligently.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is medical/diagnostic rather than afterlife-focused; it frames bodily suffering (roga) in a systematic way, supporting dharmic living through right understanding and care of health.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When facing illness, identify likely causes, watch early warning signs, note clear symptoms, track what improves or aggravates, and understand progression—then seek appropriate guidance and adjust lifestyle accordingly.