Shloka 8

Devanagari script

कफात्स्निग्धं घनं पीतं श्लेष्मतस्तु समाक्षिकम् / मधुरं लवणं भूरि प्रसक्तं लोमहर्षणम्

Transliteration

kaphātsnigdhaṃ ghanaṃ pītaṃ śleṣmatastu samākṣikam / madhuraṃ lavaṇaṃ bhūri prasaktaṃ lomaharṣaṇam

Translation

Apabila kapha berlebihan, ia menjadi berminyak, pekat dan kekuningan; kerana lendir, ia disertai lalat-lalat halus. Rasanya manis dan masin, keluar dengan banyak, berterusan, serta menimbulkan bulu roma meremang.

Word by Word

• कफात्: from phlegm
• कफात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; Ablative singular

• स्निग्धम्: unctuous, oily
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √स्निह्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjectival past participle

• घनम्: thick, dense
• घनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective used predicatively

• पीतम्: yellow
• पीतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (कृदन्त; √पा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle

• श्लेष्मतः: from mucus/phlegm
• श्लेष्मतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन्/श्लेष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular (Vedic/medical usage)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• समाक्षिकम्: mixed with honey
• समाक्षिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + माक्षिक (प्रातिपदिक; माक्षिक = मधु/मधु-सम्बद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—उपपद-तत्पुरुष (माक्षिकेन सह/युक्तम्)

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लवणम्: salty
• लवणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भूरि: abundantly, much
• भूरि: Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूरि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रसक्तम्: continuous, persistent
• प्रसक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसक्त (कृदन्त; √सञ्ज्/√सज् with प्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past participle ‘attached/continuous’

• लोमहर्षणम्: causing horripilation (gooseflesh)
• लोमहर्षणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोम + हर्षण (प्रातिपदिक; √हृष् → हर्षण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोमानां हर्षणम्)

Speaker

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

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Doṣa-vikṛti (kapha/śleṣman excess) manifests in observable qualities; careful lakṣaṇa-reading guides response.

Vedantic Theme: Deha-anityatā (impermanence and impurity of the body) as a spur to discernment.

Application: Recognize kapha-dominant pathological discharge/signs (oily, thick, yellow, fly-attracting, sweet-salty, profuse, persistent) and seek appropriate treatment/avoidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.153.9-10 (progression of signs and avoidance; kṛmija/annaja disorders); Garuda Purana 1.154.1-2 (Dhanvantari on nidāna and lakṣaṇa of hṛdroga)

Characters & Entities

• Kapha
• Shleshma

FAQs

What is the importance of kapha-related signs in Garuda Purana?

This verse lists observable features (oiliness, thickness, yellow color, sweet-salty taste, copious and persistent discharge, gooseflesh) used as diagnostic indicators; in the chapter’s context such signs help assess severe imbalance and the gravity of a condition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing bodily markers of imbalance and decline, it supports the text’s broader theme that physical deterioration and disturbed humors can precede critical transitions, prompting timely spiritual preparation and ritual readiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional checklist of kapha/phlegm dominance (thick, oily, yellow, persistent secretions with chills/gooseflesh) and seek appropriate medical care, while also taking it as a reminder to maintain disciplined living and preparedness for life’s uncertainty.