Shloka 8

Kāsa-bheda: The Fivefold Classification of Cough and Its Clinical Signs

Devanagari script

प्रततं कासवेगे च ज्योतिषामिव दर्शनम् / कफादुरो ऽल्परुङ्मूर्धि हृदयं स्तिमिते गुरु

Transliteration

pratataṃ kāsavege ca jyotiṣāmiva darśanam / kaphāduro 'lparuṅmūrdhi hṛdayaṃ stimite guru

Translation

La toux est continuelle et, lors des accès, on voit des éclairs comme des étoiles. Quand le trouble vient du kapha, la douleur de tête est légère; le cœur se sent lourd et serré, et le corps devient lent, engourdi et pesant.

Word by Word

• pratatam: continuous
• pratatam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (darśanam)

• kāsa-vege: during a bout of coughing
• kāsa-vege: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कासस्य वेगे)

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

• jyotiṣām: of lights (luminaries)
• jyotiṣām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• iva: as if
• iva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा (comparative particle)

• darśanam: seeing / appearance
• darśanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• kaphāt: from phlegm
• kaphāt: Apādāna (Cause/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (from/owing to phlegm)

• uraḥ: chest
• uraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• alpa-ruk-mūrdhi: with slight head-pain
• alpa-ruk-mūrdhi: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ruk (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अल्पा रुक् यस्य मূर्ध्नि/मूर्धा) — ‘slight head-pain’ as qualifier

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• stimite: when benumbed / in a still state
• stimite: Adhikaraṇa (State/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stimita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम्/अधिकरणवाचक (when/while being still/benumbed)

• guru: heavy
• guru: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (hṛdayam/uras)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Differentiation of kapha-origin disorder: heaviness, sluggishness, constricted heaviness at heart, mild head pain; symptom nuance aids discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa observation (tamas/heaviness) as a mirror for inner clarity—recognize and counter inertia.

Application: For kapha-pattern heaviness with persistent cough and chest/heart oppression, reduce damp/heavy diet, encourage gentle movement and warmth, and seek evaluation if breath/chest symptoms persist.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149.6 (dry/vāta features contrasted); Garuda Purana 1.149.7 (pitta features contrasted)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of kapha-related symptoms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists diagnostic signs—cough with star-like flashes, head discomfort, and heaviness—showing how the text uses doṣa-based observation (kapha) to classify illness conditions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by teaching careful recognition of bodily states and decline, it supports timely dharmic preparation (rites, discipline, and right conduct) that the Garuda Purana links with one’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the described signs as a prompt for early attention to respiratory imbalance—reduce heaviness-inducing habits, seek appropriate care, and maintain disciplined daily conduct aligned with dharma.