Shloka 4

Raktapitta Nidāna and Cikitsā: Causes, Signs, Srotas-Spread, and Śodhana Priority

Devanagari script

गन्धवर्णानुवृत्तेषु रक्तेन व्यपदिश्यते / प्रभवत्यसृजः स्थानात्प्लीहतो यकृतश्च सः

Transliteration

gandhavarṇānuvṛtteṣu raktena vyapadiśyate / prabhavatyasṛjaḥ sthānātplīhato yakṛtaśca saḥ

Translation

ഗന്ധവും വർണ്ണവും അനുസരിക്കുന്ന ധാതുക്കളിൽ ഇതിനെ ‘രക്തം’ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു. ആ രക്തം തന്റെ സ്ഥാനത്തിൽ നിന്ന്— അഥവാ പ്ലീഹയും യകൃതും (കരൾ) എന്നിവയിൽ നിന്ന്— ഉദ്ഭവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• गन्धवर्णानुवृत्तेषु: in (cases) following the smell and color
• गन्धवर्णानुवृत्तेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध + वर्ण + अनुवृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय; अधिकरण (in/with respect to)

• रक्तेन: by blood/as blood
• रक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• व्यपदिश्यते: is designated/called
• व्यपदिश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• प्रभवति: arises/originates
• प्रभवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• असृजः: of blood
• असृजः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असृज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• स्थानात्: from the seat/source
• स्थानात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (from)

• प्लीहतः: from the spleen
• प्लीहतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लीहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान

• यकृतः: from the liver
• यकृतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यकृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• सः: it/that (disease)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa and sthāna: knowing a dhātu by its qualities and seat enables right diagnosis and right action.

Vedantic Theme: Discriminative knowledge (viveka) applied to the body reduces confusion and supports disciplined life.

Application: Use sensory indicators (color/odor) and organ-seat understanding (yakṛt/plīha) in assessing blood disorders; seek appropriate treatment early.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.148.5 (symptom list follows)

Characters & Entities

• Spleen (plīhā)
• Liver (yakṛt)
• Blood (asṛk/rakta)

FAQs

What is the importance of blood (rakta/asṛk) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames blood as a key bodily principle linked with sensory qualities like color and smell, and specifies its physiological source as the spleen and liver.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing how the embodied system is constituted, it supports the text’s broader teaching that the soul’s experiences depend on the body and its subtle-physical supports.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages body-awareness: maintaining health of the liver and spleen (diet, moderation, disciplined living) is presented as foundational for balanced bodily function.