Shloka 1

Udara-roga Nidāna: Causes, Doṣa-Types, Spleen/Liver Enlargement, and Udakodara

Devanagari script

नाम षष्ट्युत्तरशततमोध्यायः धन्वन्तरिरुवाच / उदराणां निदानञ्च वक्ष्ये सुश्रुत तच्छृणु / रोगाः सर्वे ऽपि मन्दाग्नौ सुतरामुदराणि तु

Transliteration

nāma ṣaṣṭyuttaraśatatamodhyāyaḥ dhanvantariruvāca / udarāṇāṃ nidānañca vakṣye suśruta tacchṛṇu / rogāḥ sarve 'pi mandāgnau sutarāmudarāṇi tu

Translation

Disse Dhanvantari: “Agora explicarei as causas (nidāna) das enfermidades do abdome; escuta, ó Suśruta. Todas as doenças surgem quando o fogo digestivo (manda-agni) está fraco, e as doenças abdominais ainda mais.”

Word by Word

नामthus, indeed (title marker)

षष्टि-उत्तर-शततमःone-hundred-and-sixtieth

अध्यायःchapter

धन्वन्तरिःDhanvantari

उवाचsaid

उदराणाम्of abdominal diseases (udara)

निदानम्causes, etiology

चand

वक्ष्येI will explain

सुश्रुतO Suśruta

तत्that (teaching)

शृणुlisten

रोगाःdiseases

सर्वेall

अपिeven, also

मन्द-अग्नौwhen digestive fire is weak

सुतराम्especially, very much

उदराणिabdominal disorders

तुbut, indeed

Speaker

Dhanvantari

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mandagni (weak digestive fire) is the foundational nidana (cause) for disease; udararoga is especially agni-dependent.

Vedantic Theme: Cause-and-effect (karya-karana) discernment applied to embodied life; cultivating viveka through understanding nidana.

Application: Assess and correct digestive capacity first (diet, routine, digestion-supporting measures) when addressing chronic or systemic illness, with special attention to abdominal complaints.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.161.2 (mala-sanchaya and vayu-rodha); Garuda Purana 1.160.61 (prodromal bloating/weak digestion)

Characters & Entities

Dhanvantari

Sushruta

FAQs

What is the importance of mandāgni (weak digestive fire) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames mandāgni as the root condition behind disease in general, highlighting digestion (agni) as the primary regulator of health.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul as in Garuda–Vishnu dialogue?

This specific verse is from an Ayurvedic instruction segment (Dhanvantari to Suśruta) and focuses on bodily causation rather than afterlife travel; it shows the Purana also preserves practical dharma of health.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat digestion as foundational: avoid habits that weaken appetite and digestion, and prioritize diet and routine that keep agni steady.