Shloka 32

Devanagari script

भवन्ति तेन पुरुषाः काष्ठभूता मृतोपमाः / म्रियेत शीघ्रं शीघ्रं चेच्चिकित्सा न प्रयुज्यते

Transliteration

bhavanti tena puruṣāḥ kāṣṭhabhūtā mṛtopamāḥ / mriyeta śīghraṃ śīghraṃ ceccikitsā na prayujyate

Translation

അതിനാൽ മനുഷ്യർ മരക്കഷ്ണംപോലെ—മരിച്ചവരെപ്പോലെ തോന്നുന്നു; ചികിത്സ പ്രയോഗിക്കാതിരുന്നാൽ അതിവേഗം മരണം സംഭവിക്കാം.

Word by Word

• भवन्ति: become
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; धातु: भू (to become)

• तेन: by that; thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुरुषाः: men; persons
• पुरुषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• काष्ठभूताः: become like wood; rigid
• काष्ठभूताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काष्ठ-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः (काष्ठ इव) + भूत; विशेषण

• मृतोपमाः: like the dead
• मृतोपमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत-उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः (मृतस्य उपमा)

• म्रियेत: would die; may die
• म्रियेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; धातु: मृ (to die)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• शीघ्रम्: very quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (if)

• चिकित्सा: treatment; medical care
• चिकित्सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकित्सा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• प्रयुज्यते: is applied; is administered
• प्रयुज्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of timely treatment leads swiftly to death; right action includes prompt care for life preservation.

Vedantic Theme: Deha is an instrument for dharma and sādhanā; preserving it appropriately supports higher aims while recognizing its impermanence.

Application: Treat medical emergencies as urgent; seek qualified care immediately; caregivers have a duty to act swiftly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: general emphasis on timely rites and timely actions; here applied to timely treatment (general parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of chikitsā (treatment) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that timely chikitsā is crucial—without prompt treatment, a person can rapidly decline and even die.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana discussions of death?

It highlights a near-death state where the body becomes rigid and insensate, warning that neglecting care can hasten death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize severe symptoms early and seek immediate medical help rather than delaying or ignoring treatment.