Shloka 39

Prameha-Nidāna-Lakṣaṇa-Bheda: Etiology, Signs, Varieties, and Complications of Meha

Devanagari script

सम्पूर्णरूपाः कफपित्तमेहाः क्रमेण ये वै रतिसम्भवाश्च / सक्रामते पित्तकृतास्तु याप्याः साध्यो ऽस्ति मेहो यदि नास्ति दिष्टम्

Transliteration

sampūrṇarūpāḥ kaphapittamehāḥ krameṇa ye vai ratisambhavāśca / sakrāmate pittakṛtāstu yāpyāḥ sādhyo 'sti meho yadi nāsti diṣṭam

Translation

Les meha de type kapha et pitta, lorsqu’ils se présentent dans leur forme complète, évoluent peu à peu ; certains naissent aussi d’un excès d’abandon aux plaisirs sexuels. Ceux que produit le pitta peuvent être yāpya, donc maîtrisables. Un meha peut être guéri, pourvu que le diṣṭa—le destin contraire—ne s’y oppose pas.

Word by Word

• सम्पूर्णरूपाः: with complete manifestations
• सम्पूर्णरूपाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्पूर्ण (कृदन्त; √पॄ/पूर् धातु) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (सम्पूर्णं रूपं येषाम्), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् — ‘having complete signs’

• कफपित्तमेहाः: kapha/pitta mehas
• कफपित्तमेहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक) + पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कफश्च पित्तं च मेहाश्च), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् — ‘kapha-, pitta- and meha-types’

• क्रमेण: in sequence
• क्रमेण: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनस्य अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (क्रमेण) — adverb ‘in order/gradually’

• ये: which
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् — ‘which/who’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चयार्थक निपात) — ‘indeed’

• रतिसम्भवाः: arising from sexual activity
• रतिसम्भवाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (रतेः सम्भवः), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् — ‘arising from sexual indulgence’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• सक्रामते: spreads; is transmitted
• सक्रामते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स-क्रम् (धातु; √क्रम्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् — ‘spreads/gets transmitted’

• पित्तकृताः: pitta-caused
• पित्तकृताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (पित्तेन कृताः), भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् — ‘caused by pitta’

• तु: however
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विशेष/विरोध)

• याप्याः: palliable
• याप्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् — ‘palliable/manageable (not easily curable)’

• साध्यः: curable
• साध्यः: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (कृदन्त; √साध् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्/साध्य), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — ‘curable’ (predicate adjective)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् — ‘is’

• मेहः: meha (urinary disorder)
• मेहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — ‘meha’

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (शर्तार्थक) — ‘if’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् — ‘is’

• दिष्टम्: fate; ill-omen
• दिष्टम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिष्ट (कृदन्त; √दिश् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम् — ‘fate/ill-luck (ordained)’

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disease progression depends on causes and conditions: doṣa-type, indulgent behavior, and the limiting factor of diṣṭa; effort can succeed when conditions permit.

Vedantic Theme: Interplay of puruṣakāra (human effort) and daiva/diṣṭa (destiny) within empirical life; cultivate right action without fatalism.

Application: Address causative behaviors (especially overindulgence, including sexual excess), seek treatment early, and maintain disciplined routine; accept uncertainty while acting responsibly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.159.38 (doṣa causation)

FAQs

What is the importance of doṣa-based classification of meha in the Garuda Purana?

The verse emphasizes that kapha- and pitta-driven mehas have recognizable, progressive presentations, and that prognosis differs—some are yāpya (manageable) while others may be fully sādhya (curable).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than the soul’s post-death journey, the verse addresses how conduct (indulgence) and daiva (diṣṭa) affect embodied outcomes, implying a dharmic link between lifestyle and suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat lifestyle discipline as preventive medicine—especially moderation in indulgence—and recognize that prognosis depends on both timely care and limiting aggravating factors.