Shloka 23

Arśa-nidāna: Causes, Prodrome, Doṣa-types, and Complications of Hemorrhoids

Devanagari script

मुष्णात्यग्निं ततः सर्वे भवन्ति प्रायशोर्ऽशसः / कृशो भृशं हतोत्साहो दीनः क्षामो ऽथ निष्प्रभः

Transliteration

muṣṇātyagniṃ tataḥ sarve bhavanti prāyaśor'śasaḥ / kṛśo bhṛśaṃ hatotsāho dīnaḥ kṣāmo 'tha niṣprabhaḥ

Translation

火を盗む者は、多くの場合、痔の苦しみに罹る。身はひどく痩せ衰え、意気は失せ、みじめにやつれ、ついには光沢を失う。

Word by Word

• मुष्णाति: steals
• मुष्णाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुṣ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भवन्ति: become; come to be
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रायशः: generally; for the most part
• प्रायशः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अर्शसः: (they become) piles/hemorrhoids
• अर्शसः: Karta (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्शस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कृशः: emaciated; thin
• कृशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भृशम्: excessively; greatly
• भृशम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• हत-उत्साहः: with spirit/energy destroyed; discouraged
• हत-उत्साहः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन्) + उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (one whose enthusiasm is destroyed)

• दीनः: wretched; miserable
• दीनः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• क्षामः: wasted; pale; emaciated
• क्षामः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अथ: and then; further
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse-link/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: निपात (particle)

• निष्प्रभः: lusterless; without radiance
• निष्प्रभः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपसर्ग-पूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma (theft of agni) yields immediate embodied karmic retribution as disease and loss of tejas.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and the diminution of tejas/ojas through pāpa; ethical order (ṛta/dharma) reflected in the body.

Application: Treat sacred resources (especially agni) as inviolable; cultivate non-stealing (asteya) and reverence for ritual fire; use the verse as a deterrent and ethical self-audit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.156 (karmaphala-roga section continuing through 1.156.27)

Characters & Entities

• Agni (fire)

FAQs

What is the importance of fire (Agni) in Garuda Purana and why is stealing it condemned?

Fire is sacred and central to dharma (yajña, household rites, and purity). This verse treats stealing fire as a serious pāpa that damages one’s vitality and tejas, manifesting as disease and debility.

How does this verse explain the karmic link between sin and suffering?

It presents a direct karmic correspondence: the act of stealing (agnichaurya) ripens into specific bodily afflictions—arśas and progressive loss of strength, enthusiasm, and radiance—showing pāpa as both moral and psychosomatic decline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Respect shared resources and sacred duties: avoid theft or misuse (especially essentials like fuel/energy), practice honest livelihood, and cultivate purity and responsibility to protect one’s wellbeing and character.