Shloka 7

Śvāsa-nidāna: Etiology, Types, Symptom Progression, and Fatal Prognosis

Devanagari script

परिगृह्यशिरोग्रीवमुरः पार्श्वे च पीडयन् / कासं घुर्घुरकं मोहमरुचिम्पीनसं भृशम्

Transliteration

parigṛhyaśirogrīvamuraḥ pārśve ca pīḍayan / kāsaṃ ghurghurakaṃ mohamarucimpīnasaṃ bhṛśam

Translation

ശിരസ്സും കഴുത്തും പിടിച്ചുകെട്ടി, വക്ഷസ്ഥലവും പാർശ്വങ്ങളും ശക്തമായി അമർത്തുമ്പോൾ, കടുത്ത കാശം, തൊണ്ടയിൽ ഘുർഘുരശബ്ദം, മൂർച്ചാസദൃശ മോഹം, അരുചി, അത്യന്തം പീനസം എന്നിവ ഉണ്ടാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• परिगृह्य: having seized; constricting
• परिगृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग) → परिगृह्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having seized/encircled’

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ग्रीवम्: neck
• ग्रीवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रीवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उरः: chest
• उरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पार्श्वे: in the side/flank
• पार्श्वे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• पीडयन्: pressing; afflicting
• पीडयन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पीड् (धातु) → पीडयत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कासम्: cough
• कासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• घुर्घुरकम्: rattling/wheezing sound
• घुर्घुरकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घुर्घुरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मोह: delusion; faintness
• मोह: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासपूर्वपद

• अरुचि: loss of appetite; anorexia
• अरुचि: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासमध्यपद

• पीनसम्: coryza; nasal catarrh
• पीनसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीनस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासान्तपद

• भृशम्: excessively; severely
• भृशम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: excessively)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Symptom-complex mapping: head/neck involvement, chest/side pressure, cough, throat rattle, moha, anorexia, and severe coryza—recognition of advanced tamaka/śvāsa manifestation.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha as signal within prakṛti: suffering prompts inquiry and corrective action; clarity (sattva) is impaired when prāṇa is obstructed, mirroring how mind is clouded by tamas.

Application: Identify red-flag severity (moha, intense congestion, rattling) and seek prompt care; avoid triggers; support airway clearance and restore prāṇa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.150.5 (pūrvarūpa); Garuda Purana 1.150.6 (kapha driven to head)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of describing death symptoms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists physical and mental distress-signs at life’s end, helping identify the dying phase so that remembrance, prayers, and prescribed rites may be undertaken with awareness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By portraying intense bodily affliction and mental confusion at the end, it frames the transition-point when the jīva is about to leave the body and enter the post-death (preta) condition described later in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to prepare spiritually before severe incapacity arises—cultivate steady remembrance, reduce harmful actions, and keep end-of-life support focused on calmness, clarity, and dharmic observances.