Shloka 5

Devanagari script

धातूनां स्पर्शशैथिल्यमामजश्च गुणक्षयः / ततो ऽल्परक्तमेदो ऽस्थिनिः सारः स्याच्छ्लथेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

dhātūnāṃ sparśaśaithilyamāmajaśca guṇakṣayaḥ / tato 'lparaktamedo 'sthiniḥ sāraḥ syācchlathendriyaḥ

Translation

身体の諸組織は触れても弛み、たるみ、アーマ（未消化の毒性残滓）により諸性質が衰える。そこから血は乏しく、脂肪は減り、骨の精髄は失われ、諸根（感官）は弛緩して弱くなる。

Word by Word

• धातूनाम्: of the dhātus
• धातूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन — of the bodily constituents (dhātus)

• स्पर्श-शैथिल्यम्: laxity of touch
• स्पर्श-शैथिल्यम्: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + शैथिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — sparśasya śaithilyam (touch-related looseness)

• आमजः: arising from āma
• आमजः: Karta/Predicate-adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आम (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘born of āma’ (āma-ja)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गुण-क्षयः: diminution of qualities
• गुण-क्षयः: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — guṇānāṃ kṣayaḥ (loss of qualities)

• ततः: thereupon; from that
• ततः: Hetu/Source (हेतु/अपादान-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/हेतु-अर्थे (ablatival/adverbial: ‘thereupon/from that’)

• अल्प-रक्त-मेदः-अस्थिनिः: having scant blood, fat, and bone
• अल्प-रक्त-मेदः-अस्थिनिः: Karta/Predicate-adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + नि (प्रातिपदिक/प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — बहुव्रीहिः: ‘yasya raktam medaś ca asthi ca alpam’ (having little blood, fat, and bone)

• सारः: essence; vitality
• सारः: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — essence/vitality

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन — ‘would be/should be’

• श्लथ-इन्द्रियः: with weakened senses
• श्लथ-इन्द्रियः: Karta/Predicate-adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लथ (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — बहुव्रीहिः: ‘yasya indriyāṇi ślathāni’ (whose senses are slack)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Care of the body as a dharmic instrument; recognizing āma and tissue-depletion as warning signs requiring correction.

Vedantic Theme: Sharira as sadhana-upakarana (instrument for purushartha); impermanence of bodily qualities prompting vigilance and restraint.

Application: Avoid āma-producing diet/behavior; seek timely regimen to restore agni and dhatu-nourishment; treat sensory weakness as a red-flag for systemic depletion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.162 (Ayurveda/roga-lakshana section: āma, doṣa, dhātu-kṣaya descriptions)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of āma (undigested residue) in this Garuda Purana verse?

Āma is presented as a root cause that degrades bodily qualities and weakens tissues, explaining why the disorder progresses into systemic depletion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By showing how sensory powers weaken when dhātus decline, it reinforces the Purana’s theme that the body and senses are unstable supports—encouraging reliance on dharma and inner discipline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain digestibility-focused habits (simple diet, regular routine) to avoid āma-like toxicity, and address persistent fatigue/weakness early rather than letting depletion deepen.