Shloka 31

Yama-mārga (Adhvan) and the Courts of Yama: Vaivasvatī and Chitragupta

Devanagari script

मध्यपीठोत्तरे ज्ञेयो तथा चान्या विषचिका / ऐशन्यां वै शिरो ऽर्तिश्च आग्नेय्याञ्चैव मृकता

Transliteration

madhyapīṭhottare jñeyo tathā cānyā viṣacikā / aiśanyāṃ vai śiro 'rtiśca āgneyyāñcaiva mṛkatā

Translation

മദ്ധ്യപീഠത്തിന്റെ മേൽഭാഗത്ത് വേദന ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ അത് ‘വിഷചികാ’ എന്ന വ്യാധിയെന്ന് അറിയണം। വടക്കുകിഴക്കിൽ ശിരോവേദന; തെക്കുകിഴക്കിൽ മൃകതാ (ക്ഷയം) എന്നും ഗ്രഹിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• madhya-pīṭha-uttare: to the north of the central seat
• madhya-pīṭha-uttare: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (मध्य) + pīṭha (पीठ प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (उत्तर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (मध्यपीठस्य उत्तरे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• jñeyaḥ: is to be known
• jñeyaḥ: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु) → jñeya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be known)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (likewise)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anyā: another
• anyā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण/संज्ञा-रूपेण (another [one])

• viṣacikā: viṣacikā (a disease name)
• viṣacikā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣacikā (विषचिका प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• aiśanyām: in the north-east
• aiśanyām: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśanī (ऐशनी/ऐशान्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (in the north-east)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• śiraḥ: head (disease: headache)
• śiraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (शिरस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• artiḥ: pain/affliction
• artiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arti (अर्ति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• āgneyyām: in the south-east
• āgneyyām: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgneyī (आग्नेयी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (in the south-east)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic: just/indeed)

• mṛkatā: mṛkatā (a disease name)
• mṛkatā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛkatā (मृकता प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific pains/signs correspond to specific afflictions; suffering is classified and knowable, implying ordered karmic fruition.

Vedantic Theme: The phenomenal body as a field where karma ripens in determinate patterns; knowledge of patterns fosters detachment and ethical vigilance.

Application: Observe causes and effects carefully; treat early signs (physical or moral) as prompts for correction and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: dik-mandala and body-map (deha-lakṣaṇa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.33.29–32: the surrounding afflictions of Citragupta’s station; this verse continues the catalog with directional specificity

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of directional pain omens in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily pain and its directional/locational occurrence as a diagnostic omen, linking specific regions (north-east, south-east, upper middle-back) to particular ailments.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on death and illness?

In the Preta Kanda, illness-signs are often presented as warnings that prompt timely dharmic preparation—medical care, purification, and rites—before a person enters the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional indicator to take symptoms seriously: seek treatment early, reduce harmful habits, and maintain spiritual preparedness through prayer, charity, and appropriate family rites.