Shloka 37

Devanagari script

पक्षमन्यतरं हन्ति पक्षाघातः स उच्यते / कृत्स्नस्य कायस्यार्धं स्यादकर्मण्यमचेतनम्

Transliteration

pakṣamanyataraṃ hanti pakṣāghātaḥ sa ucyate / kṛtsnasya kāyasyārdhaṃ syādakarmaṇyamacetanam

Translation

L’état qui frappe et détruit un côté (comme une « aile ») est appelé pakṣāghāta. La moitié du corps entier devient inerte et sans sensation.

Word by Word

• पक्षम्: one side/half (of body)
• पक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• अन्यतरम्: one of the two; either
• अन्यतरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्यतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Masculine, Accusative singular; adjective)

• हन्ति: strikes/afflicts
• हन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd person singular)

• पक्षाघातः: hemiplegic stroke; paralysis of one side
• पक्षाघातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष + आघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (stroke of one side) (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• सः: that (is)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Masculine, Nominative singular; pronoun)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive) (Present, 3rd person singular, passive)

• कृत्स्नस्य: of the whole
• कृत्स्नस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (Genitive singular; adjective)

• कायस्य: of the body
• कायस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive singular)

• अर्धम्: half
• अर्धम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular)

• स्यात्: would become/be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd person singular)

• अकर्मण्यम्: incapable of action; nonfunctional
• अकर्मण्यम्: Karta (Subject complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-कर्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मण्य ‘fit for action’ + negation)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter Nom./Acc. singular; adjective)

• अचेतनम्: insentient; without sensation
• अचेतनम्: Karta (Subject complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-चेतन (प्रातिपदिक; चेतन ‘conscious’ + negation)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter Nom./Acc. singular; adjective)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pakṣāghāta is characterized by unilateral destruction of function—akarmaṇyatā and acetana in half the body.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-kriyā dependence on prāṇa and bodily instruments; limitation of agency (kartṛtva) in embodiment.

Application: Early recognition of unilateral weakness/numbness; seek timely care, protect the affected side, and institute rehabilitation and vāta-pacifying measures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.166.36-40 (vāta-vyādhi cluster: pakṣāghāta, stambha, daṇḍāpatānaka)

FAQs

What is the importance of pakṣāghāta in Garuda Purana?

It provides a precise traditional definition of hemiplegic paralysis—affliction of one side with loss of movement and sensation—within the Purana’s vāta-roga framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

The verse is medical rather than eschatological; its teaching supports dharma by recognizing disabling illness and encouraging timely care, which helps one continue duties and spiritual practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Sudden weakness or numbness of one side should be treated as an emergency; seek immediate medical attention and rehabilitation, rather than delaying it as a minor vāta imbalance.