Shloka 19

Kuṣṭha-bheda-lakṣaṇa-nidāna and Śvitra (Kilāsa) Prognosis

Devanagari script

ऋष्यजिह्वाकृतिप्रोक्तं ऋष्यजिह्वं बहुक्रिमि / हस्तिचर्मखरस्पर्शं चर्माख्यं कुष्ठमुच्यते

Transliteration

ṛṣyajihvākṛtiproktaṃ ṛṣyajihvaṃ bahukrimi / hasticarmakharasparśaṃ carmākhyaṃ kuṣṭhamucyate

Translation

「聖仙（ṛṣi）の舌の形に似る」と説かれる癩は「リシヤジフヴァ（Ṛṣyajihvā）」と呼ばれ、多くの虫に侵される。また、触れると象の皮のように粗く硬い癩は「チャルマーキヤ（Carmākhya、『皮の型』）」と名づけられる。

Word by Word

• ऋष्यजिह्वाकृतिप्रोक्तम्: said to be of the ‘ṛṣyajihvā’ shape
• ऋष्यजिह्वाकृतिप्रोक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋष्यजिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + कृति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रोक्त (प्र + √वच्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—ऋष्यजिह्वाकृत्या प्रोक्तम् (as said to be of the form of ṛṣyajihvā)

• ऋष्यजिह्वम्: (called) ṛṣyajihva
• ऋष्यजिह्वम्: Visheshya (Qualified noun/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋष्यजिह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बहुक्रिमि: having many worms
• बहुक्रिमि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बहवः कृमयः यस्मिन्)

• हस्तिचर्मखरस्पर्शम्: with a rough touch like elephant skin
• हस्तिचर्मखरस्पर्शम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + खर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—हस्तिचर्मवत् खरः स्पर्शः यस्य

• चर्माख्यम्: named ‘carma’
• चर्माख्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक; √ख्या (धातु) क्त/ण्यत्-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चर्म इति आख्यं/नाम यस्य)

• कुष्ठम्: leprosy/skin disease
• कुष्ठम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called/said
• उच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge (lakshana-jnana) distinguishes conditions; accurate naming is part of wise action.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) applied at the empirical level; knowledge guides right conduct.

Application: Use careful observation and precise terminology; consult skilled practitioners rather than superstition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.164 (kushta-bheda: ṛṣyajihvā, carmākhya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of describing kuṣṭha (skin diseases) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies specific kuṣṭha-types by appearance and touch, reflecting the Purana’s diagnostic style and its moral-cosmological framing of suffering as a result of prior causes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing bodily afflictions, it supports the text’s broader teaching that embodied experience—including disease—can arise from past actions and serves as a field for dharma and purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to cultivate ethical conduct and compassion toward the sick; medically, treat such descriptions as traditional symptom-categories, not as a substitute for diagnosis.