Shloka 43

Jvara-Nidāna-Lakṣaṇa: Causes, Doṣic Types, Āma/Nirāma Stages, and Prognosis of Fever

Devanagari script

ज्वरः पञ्चविधः प्रोक्तो मलकालबलाबलात् / प्रायशः सन्निपातेन भूयसामुपदिश्यते

Transliteration

jvaraḥ pañcavidhaḥ prokto malakālabalābalāt / prāyaśaḥ sannipātena bhūyasāmupadiśyate

Translation

On enseigne que la fièvre est de cinq sortes, née des impuretés (déchets des doṣa), du temps ou des saisons, et de la force ou de la faiblesse du corps ; pourtant, le plus souvent, il est dit qu’elle provient surtout du sannipāta, l’exacerbation conjointe de tous les doṣa.

Word by Word

• ज्वरः: fever
• ज्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पञ्चविधः: fivefold
• पञ्चविधः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘fivefold’

• प्रोक्तः: is declared/said
• प्रोक्तः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावे ‘has been said/declared’

• मलकालबलाबलात्: based on excreta, time, strength and weakness
• मलकालबलाबलात्: Hetu/Apadāna (Cause/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-समाहार-द्वन्द्वः, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘from (consideration of) excreta, time, strength and weakness’

• प्रायशः: generally/mostly
• प्रायशः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सन्निपातेन: by (the) concurrence/combination (of doṣas)
• सन्निपातेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भूयसाम्: of the majority (of cases)
• भूयसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of the greater/more (cases)’

• उपदिश्यते: is taught/prescribed
• उपदिश्यते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata/Pitta/Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Fever classification and causation: mala, season/time, and bodily strength; most fevers arise from tridoṣa aggravation (sannipāta).

Vedantic Theme: Right knowledge (yathārtha-jñāna) reduces fear and guides action; discernment applied to embodied life.

Application: Treat fever with attention to seasonality, patient strength, and likely tridoṣic involvement; avoid one-doṣa assumptions and use balanced management.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.147 (jvara and doṣa discussion continues)

FAQs

What is the importance of jvara (fever) classification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames fever as a multi-causal condition and highlights that most fevers are sannipāta—arising from combined doṣic disturbance—guiding diagnosis beyond a single-cause view.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it presents a dharmic-Āyurvedic teaching on bodily disorder, emphasizing balanced living and timely care as part of righteous conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat fever as potentially multi-factorial—seasonal factors, internal imbalance, and individual strength matter—so prioritize early care, appropriate regimen, and restoring balance rather than assuming a single trigger.