Shloka 17

Śvāsa-nidāna: Etiology, Types, Symptom Progression, and Fatal Prognosis

Devanagari script

श्लेष्मावृतमुखश्रोत्रः क्रुद्धगन्धवहार्दितः / ऊर्ध्वं समीक्षते भ्रान्तमक्षिणी परितः क्षिपन्

Transliteration

śleṣmāvṛtamukhaśrotraḥ kruddhagandhavahārditaḥ / ūrdhvaṃ samīkṣate bhrāntamakṣiṇī paritaḥ kṣipan

Translation

口と耳は痰に覆われ塞がれ、激しく悪臭を放つ風に責められる。彼は混乱して上を見つめ、眼は落ち着かず四方へと走り回る。

Word by Word

• श्लेष्मावृतमुखश्रोत्रः: whose mouth and ears are covered with phlegm
• श्लेष्मावृतमुखश्रोत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्लेष्मणा आवृते मुखश्रोत्रे यस्य)

• क्रुद्धगन्धवहार्दितः: afflicted by a disturbed smell-/breath-channel
• क्रुद्धगन्धवहार्दितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धवह (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्दित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्रुद्धेन गन्धवहेन आर्दितः = गन्धवह-नाडी/प्राणवह-मार्गे विकारात् पीडितः)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (Direction/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• समीक्षते: looks, gazes
• समीक्षते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भ्रान्तम्: bewilderedly
• भ्रान्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रान्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (in a bewildered manner)

• अक्षिणी: the two eyes
• अक्षिणी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; ‘अक्षिणी’ (dual form of अक्षि)

• परितः: all around
• परितः: Adhikarana (Spatial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परितः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (around, on all sides)

• क्षिपन्: tossing/jerking (them)
• क्षिपन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अक्षिणी) क्षिपन् = नेत्रे विक्षिपन्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When senses fail and the body becomes repellent, refuge in the divine name and inner orientation is paramount.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nivṛtti and turning inward; reliance on śravaṇa/smaraṇa beyond bodily capacity.

Application: Arrange supportive chanting/hearing of sacred texts when the dying cannot speak; maintain a calm, sattvic atmosphere.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.150 (maraṇa-lakṣaṇa continuation)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing death symptoms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights how karmic burden manifests as physical and subtle distress at death—confusion, agitation, and torment—serving as a warning to live dharmically.

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

It depicts the disoriented, afflicted condition at the threshold of death, implying an unstable transition into the preta state when the inner winds and senses are disturbed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma and mental clarity through ethical living, restraint, and remembrance of the divine, so the mind is steadier and less fearful at life’s end.