Shloka 4

Arocaka (Loss of Appetite): Nidāna, Doṣa-Lakṣaṇa, and Doṣaja Vomiting (Chardi) Markers

Devanagari script

उदानो ऽधिकृतान्दोषान्सर्वं सन्ध्यर्हमस्यति / आशु क्लेशो ऽस्य लावण्यप्रसेकारुचयः क्रमात्

Transliteration

udāno 'dhikṛtāndoṣānsarvaṃ sandhyarhamasyati / āśu kleśo 'sya lāvaṇyaprasekārucayaḥ kramāt

Translation

Kemudian udāna-vāyu mengambil alih, mengusir keluar segala kekotoran tubuh; dan dengan segera, menurut tertibnya, kesengsaraan menimpanya—seri wajah pudar, air liur dan rasa pada lidah berkurang sedikit demi sedikit.

Word by Word

• उदानः: udāna (a vital wind)
• उदानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अधिकृतान्: affected, taken hold of
• अधिकृतान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhikṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ/कृ + adhi-; past participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दोषान्: doṣas, humors/faults
• दोषान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वम्: all, entirely
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सन्ध्यर्हम्: fit for the twilight time
• सन्ध्यर्हम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sandhi (प्रातिपदिक) + arh(a) (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सन्ध्या-अर्हम् = suitable for twilight/at twilight time)

• अस्यति: throws up, ejects
• अस्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्/क्षेपणे)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• क्लेशः: distress, affliction
• क्लेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kleśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्य: of him/its
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लावण्यप्रसेकारुचयः: pallor, salivation, and loss of appetite (tastes)
• लावण्यप्रसेकारुचयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāvaṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + praseka (प्रातिपदिक) + ruci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (लावण्यः/लावण्य-भावः, प्रसेकः, रुचयः)

• क्रमात्: in sequence, gradually
• क्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभः; पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (ablative used adverbially)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: As prāṇa reorganizes (udāna predominates), bodily ‘impurities’ and vitality are expelled; beauty and taste are transient.

Vedantic Theme: Deha as upādhi; prāṇa’s movements are not the Self—witness-consciousness remains distinct from bodily decline.

Application: Cultivate witness-attitude during illness/aging; reduce identification with appearance and sensory enjoyment; prepare mind with mantra/meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prāṇa-vāyu roles (prāṇa/apāna/samāna/udāna/vyāna) in dying descriptions nearby

Characters & Entities

• Udana
• Vayu (as vital airs)
• Doshas

FAQs

What is the importance of udāna-vāyu in the Garuda Purana’s description of death?

This verse presents udāna as the vital force that “takes charge” at the end stage, driving the body toward separation by expelling impurities and initiating the visible decline of bodily functions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul at the time of death?

By highlighting udāna’s dominance and the sequential weakening of radiance and sensory relish, the verse points to the prāṇic shift that precedes the jīva’s disengagement from the physical body and transition to the subtle state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages mindful preparation for mortality—cultivating dharma, reducing harmful habits, and supporting end-of-life care with calmness and spiritual focus as bodily capacities naturally diminish.