Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

प्रततं कासवेगे च ज्योतिषामिव दर्शनम् / कफादुरो ऽल्परुङ्मूर्धि हृदयं स्तिमिते गुरु

Transliteration

pratataṃ kāsavege ca jyotiṣāmiva darśanam / kaphāduro 'lparuṅmūrdhi hṛdayaṃ stimite guru

Translation

咳は絶えず、発作の折には星のきらめきのような閃光が見える。カパ（kapha）に由来するなら頭痛は軽く、心は重く締めつけられ、身体は鈍く重くなる。

Word by Word

• pratatam: continuous
• pratatam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (darśanam)

• kāsa-vege: during a bout of coughing
• kāsa-vege: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कासस्य वेगे)

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

• jyotiṣām: of lights (luminaries)
• jyotiṣām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• iva: as if
• iva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा (comparative particle)

• darśanam: seeing / appearance
• darśanam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• kaphāt: from phlegm
• kaphāt: Apādāna (Cause/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (from/owing to phlegm)

• uraḥ: chest
• uraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• alpa-ruk-mūrdhi: with slight head-pain
• alpa-ruk-mūrdhi: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ruk (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अल्पा रुक् यस्य मূर्ध्नि/मूर्धा) — ‘slight head-pain’ as qualifier

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• stimite: when benumbed / in a still state
• stimite: Adhikaraṇa (State/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stimita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषणम्/अधिकरणवाचक (when/while being still/benumbed)

• guru: heavy
• guru: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (hṛdayam/uras)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Differentiation of kapha-origin disorder: heaviness, sluggishness, constricted heaviness at heart, mild head pain; symptom nuance aids discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa observation (tamas/heaviness) as a mirror for inner clarity—recognize and counter inertia.

Application: For kapha-pattern heaviness with persistent cough and chest/heart oppression, reduce damp/heavy diet, encourage gentle movement and warmth, and seek evaluation if breath/chest symptoms persist.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149.6 (dry/vāta features contrasted); Garuda Purana 1.149.7 (pitta features contrasted)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of kapha-related symptoms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists diagnostic signs—cough with star-like flashes, head discomfort, and heaviness—showing how the text uses doṣa-based observation (kapha) to classify illness conditions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by teaching careful recognition of bodily states and decline, it supports timely dharmic preparation (rites, discipline, and right conduct) that the Garuda Purana links with one’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the described signs as a prompt for early attention to respiratory imbalance—reduce heaviness-inducing habits, seek appropriate care, and maintain disciplined daily conduct aligned with dharma.