Shloka 23

Vāta-vyādhi Nidāna and Lakṣaṇa: Obstruction, Dhātu-Seating, and Major Neuromuscular Entities

Devanagari script

पार्श्वयोर्वेदनां बाह्यां हनुपृष्ठसिरोग्रहम् / देहस्य बहिरायामं पृष्ठतो हृदये शिरः

Transliteration

pārśvayorvedanāṃ bāhyāṃ hanupṛṣṭhasirograham / dehasya bahirāyāmaṃ pṛṣṭhato hṛdaye śiraḥ

Translation

Ada sakit luar pada kedua-dua sisi, serta cengkaman yang menekan rahang, belakang dan kepala; tubuh diregangkan ke luar, dan dari belakang kepala seakan menekan kawasan jantung.

Word by Word

• पार्श्वयोः: in/of the two sides (flanks)
• पार्श्वयोः: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) / सप्तमी (अधिकरण), द्विवचन

• वेदनाम्: pain
• वेदनाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बाह्याम्: external
• बाह्याम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वेदनाम् इति विशेषणम्

• हनुपृष्ठसिरोग्रहम्: seizure/stiffness of jaw, back, and head
• हनुपृष्ठसिरोग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनु (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहार-तत्पुरुषः (हनु-पृष्ठ-शिरसां ग्रहः/ग्रहणम्)

• देहस्य: of the body
• देहस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• बहिरायामम्: outward stretching/extension
• बहिरायामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय) + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (बहिः-आयामः)

• पृष्ठतः: from behind/at the back
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana (Place/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतः (अव्यय; पृष्ठ + तस्)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from/at the back')

• हृदये: in the heart region
• हृदये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता) / द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied suffering intensifies at the threshold of death; it underscores the karmically conditioned nature of bodily experience.

Vedantic Theme: Duḥkha as inherent to saṃsāra; body as upadhi subject to change and pain.

Application: Cultivate equanimity and spiritual support systems (mantra, satsanga, end-of-life care) before crisis; reduce harmful actions that lead to suffering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.166 (sequence of terminal signs: pains, constrictions, postural distortions)

FAQs

What kind of bodily experience does this verse associate with the final stage of life?

It describes intense pains and gripping sensations in the sides, jaw, back, and head, along with abnormal stretching and pressure sensations near the heart.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By detailing severe bodily dislocation and distress, it signals the breakdown of the physical support system, which precedes the jīva’s transition toward the post-death journey described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It supports compassionate end-of-life care while emphasizing spiritual steadiness—keeping sacred recitation and remembrance central when the body undergoes distress.