Shloka 17

Devanagari script

हृद्व्यथा मलंससर्गः प्रवृत्तिर्वाल्पशो ऽति वा / स्निग्धास्यता बलभ्रंशः स्वरसादः प्रलापितः

Transliteration

hṛdvyathā malaṃsasargaḥ pravṛttirvālpaśo 'ti vā / snigdhāsyatā balabhraṃśaḥ svarasādaḥ pralāpitaḥ

Translation

ഹൃദയവേദന, മലവും മാംസവും കലർന്ന സ്രാവം, വിസർജനം ചിലപ്പോൾ അല്പമോ അതിയോ, വായിൽ സ്നിഗ്ധത, ബലക്ഷയം, സ്വരക്ഷീണം, പ്രലാപവാക്കുകൾ—ഇവയാണ് ലക്ഷണങ്ങൾ।

Word by Word

• hṛdvyathā: pain in the heart
• hṛdvyathā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक) + vyathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हृदः व्यथा)

• malaṃsasargaḥ: discharge/oozing of impurities
• malaṃsasargaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃsasarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मलस्य अंससर्गः)

• pravṛttiḥ: activity; onset
• pravṛttiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pra√vṛt (धातु) → pravṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative)

• alpaśaḥ: slightly; in small measure
• alpaśaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śas (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner/degree)

• ati: excessively
• ati: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अतिशयार्थक उपसर्ग/निपात (intensifier)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative)

• snigdhāsyatā: oily/greasy mouth condition
• snigdhāsyatā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक) + āsyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्निग्धा आस्यता)

• balabhraṃśaḥ: loss of strength
• balabhraṃśaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + bhraṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बलस्य भ्रंशः)

• svarasādaḥ: hoarseness; weakening of voice
• svarasādaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svara (प्रातिपदिक) + sāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वरस्य सादः)

• pralāpitaḥ: delirious; incoherent speech
• pralāpitaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√lap (धातु) → pralāpita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Observation of bodily signs as knowledge for discernment of disease progression and impending danger.

Vedantic Theme: Deha-anityatva (impermanence of the body) and viveka (discriminative awareness).

Application: Use symptom-recognition to seek timely care, reduce aggravating habits, and cultivate detachment and preparedness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.147 (Ayurveda/roga-lakshana context: jvara and sannipata discussion continues in adjacent verses)

FAQs

What is the importance of recognizing death signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists bodily indicators associated with the approach of death, helping families and practitioners recognize the dying phase and prepare for appropriate dharmic conduct and last rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing the weakening of the body (strength, voice, clarity of speech), the verse implies the jīva’s impending separation from the physical frame—an important narrative step before the post-death journey described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these signs as a cue to prioritize calmness, prayer/recitation, settling duties, and timely arrangements for end-of-life care and traditional rites, rather than panic or neglect.