Shloka 7

Causes and Signs of Hṛdroga

Heart Disease) and Tṛṣṇā (Pathological Thirst

Devanagari script

हृदयं सततं चात्र क्रकचेनेव दीर्यते / चिकित्सदामयं (रं) घोरं तच्छीघ्रं शीघ्रमारिणम्

Transliteration

hṛdayaṃ satataṃ cātra krakaceneva dīryate / cikitsadāmayaṃ (raṃ) ghoraṃ tacchīghraṃ śīghramāriṇam

Translation

ત્યાં હૃદય સતત જાણે કરવતથી ચીરાતું હોય તેમ પીડાય છે. તે ભયંકર, સારવારથી પરે વ્યાધિ છે—ઝડપે ઊભી થાય અને ઝડપથી પ્રાણહર બને છે.

Word by Word

• hṛdayam: the heart
• hṛdayam: Karma/Āśraya (Patient/seat of action)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• satatam: continually
• satatam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): ‘सततम्’ = continually

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/and)

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक/adverb of place): here

• krakacena: by a saw
• krakacena: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krakaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Upamā (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमा/particle of comparison)

• dīryate: is torn/split
• dīryate: Kriyā (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṝ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is torn/split’

• cikitsadā: (one) to be treated/for physicians (difficult to treat)
• cikitsadā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of āmayaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cikitsadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (context: ‘for physicians/for treatment’)

• āmayaḥ: disease
• āmayaḥ: Karta/State (Lakṣaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of āmayaṃ understood)

• tat: that/it
• tat: Anuvāda (Resumptive pronoun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; here deictic ‘that/it’

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): quickly

• śīghra-māriṇam: quickly fatal
• śīghra-māriṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of āmayaṃ understood)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक) + mārin (प्रातिपदिक; mārin < √mṛ (धातु) ‘killing’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शीघ्रं मारयति’ = quickly fatal

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mortality is immediate and uncompromising; cultivate preparedness and inner refuge beyond the body.

Vedantic Theme: Dehābhimāna-tyāga (loosening identification with the body); remembrance of the imperishable Self amid bodily collapse.

Application: When confronted with severe, rapidly fatal illness: prioritize essential duties, reconcile relationships, steady the mind, and take refuge in prayer/meditation alongside medical care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: broader teachings on death-awareness and preparation (Pretakalpa context, general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of describing such intense suffering in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses vivid, bodily imagery (the heart torn like by a saw) to emphasize karmic consequence and to motivate dharmic living and timely rites that support the departed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda narrative, the departed experiences results of karma in subtle/otherworldly conditions; this verse highlights a specific torment-like affliction that afflicts the being in that post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and compassion to avoid harmful karma, and uphold traditional duties (ethical conduct, remembrance of ancestors, appropriate funeral/śrāddha observances) with sincerity.