Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

सिध्येतामपि सामर्थ्यात्साध्यादौ च पृथक्क्रमः / मिश्रा याप्याश्च ये सर्वे जरसः स्थविरस्य च

Transliteration

sidhyetāmapi sāmarthyātsādhyādau ca pṛthakkramaḥ / miśrā yāpyāśca ye sarve jarasaḥ sthavirasya ca

Translation

たとえ己の力量によって療法が成就し得るとしても、「治癒し得るもの」とそれ以外とでは、しかるべき順序に従い、手順を別々に行うべきである。性質の混じり合う諸病、ただ調養して抑えるのみの病（ヤーピヤ）、および老衰・高齢より起こる諸患は、相応に処すべきである。

Word by Word

• sidhyetām: may be accomplished (the two may succeed)
• sidhyetām: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sidh (सिध् धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य?; लिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद (सिध्येताम्)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (even/also)

• sāmarthyāt: from (their) strength/capacity
• sāmarthyāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmarthya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)

• sādhya-ādau: at the beginning of treatment (in the curable stage)
• sādhya-ādau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhya (कृदन्त; √sādh साध् (धातु) + यत्) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (sādhye ādiḥ/ādau = in the beginning of what is to be treated)

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

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)

• kramaḥ: sequence/procedure
• kramaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• miśrāḥ: mixed
• miśrāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: miśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• yāpyāḥ: palliable
• yāpyāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yāpya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• ye: which/that (those who)
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• jarasaḥ: of old age
• jarasaḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• sthavirasya: of an aged person
• sthavirasya: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthavira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yukti (rational method): even with competence, treatment must follow distinct protocols for sādhyā (curable), yāpyā (manageable), miśra (mixed), and jarā/sthāvirya (senescent) conditions.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) applied to prakṛti (body-mind conditions); acceptance of limits in jarā as part of saṃsāric embodiment.

Application: Triage by prognosis category; do not apply one-size-fits-all remedies; in old-age disorders prioritize palliation, strength maintenance, and harm-reduction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149.19 (sādhyatva/yāpyatva framing); Garuda Purana 1.149.21 (urgency against neglect)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of following an ordered method (krama) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that even if one has the means to act, one should follow the proper sequence and distinct procedures—especially when conditions differ in nature (curable, mixed, manageable, or age-related).

How does this verse classify human conditions like illness or decline?

It distinguishes between sādhya (curable), miśra (mixed/complex), yāpya (manageable but not fully curable), and those rooted in jarā/sthaviratā (senescence and old age), implying different approaches for each.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Apply discernment: treat solvable problems directly, manage chronic issues realistically, and accept age-related decline with disciplined care—without forcing a one-size-fits-all solution.