Shloka 28

Cikitsā-sāra: Doṣa Nidāna–Lakṣaṇa, Agni, Ajīrṇa/Āma Cikitsā, Daśamūla, and Prognostic Signs

Devanagari script

कृशस्य वृंहणं कार्यंस्थूलदेहस्य कर्षणम् / रक्षणं मध्यकायस्य देहभेदास्त्रयो मताः

Transliteration

kṛśasya vṛṃhaṇaṃ kāryaṃsthūladehasya karṣaṇam / rakṣaṇaṃ madhyakāyasya dehabhedāstrayo matāḥ

Translation

Pour l’amaigri, il faut entreprendre une thérapie nourrissante et fortifiante ; pour le corps obèse, une thérapie de réduction. Pour la constitution moyenne, il est conseillé de maintenir et de protéger l’équilibre. Ainsi sont reconnus trois types de corps.

Word by Word

• kṛśasya: of the emaciated (person)
• kṛśasya: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of a thin person’

• vṛṃhaṇam: nourishing/strengthening (therapy)
• vṛṃhaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṃhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √vṛṃh/वृंह्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म/विधेय-नाम

• kāryam: is to be done
• kāryam: Kriya (obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: भाव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘should be done’

• sthūla-dehasya: of the stout-bodied (person)
• sthūla-dehasya: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthūla (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘sthūlaḥ dehaḥ’

• karṣaṇam: reducing/slimming (therapy)
• karṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛṣ/कृष्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• rakṣaṇam: protection/maintenance
• rakṣaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √rakṣ/रक्ष्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• madhya-kāyasya: of the medium-built (person)
• madhya-kāyasya: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘madhyaḥ kāyaḥ’

• deha-bhedāḥ: types of bodies
• deha-bhedāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘dehasya bhedāḥ’

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Visheshana (of deha-bhedāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक, संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• matāḥ: are considered
• matāḥ: Kriya (Predicate; passive participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (मन्) (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘are considered’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yukti (appropriate means) and madhyama-mārga (middle way): different constitutions require different disciplines.

Vedantic Theme: Samatva (evenness) as a practical virtue; care of the instrument (body) supports higher pursuits.

Application: Choose therapy by condition: brṃhaṇa (nourishing) for emaciation, karśaṇa (reducing) for obesity, rakṣaṇa (maintenance) for medium build.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168.30 (definition of sāmyam/balance)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What are the three body types mentioned in this Garuda Purana verse?

Thin (kṛśa), obese/stout (sthūla), and medium-built (madhya); each requires a different therapeutic approach.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death path; it teaches how to manage the living body through nourishment, reduction, or maintenance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose goals realistically: nourish underweight bodies, reduce excess weight carefully, and prioritize balance and prevention for average build.