Shloka 42

Jvara-Nidāna-Lakṣaṇa: Causes, Doṣic Types, Āma/Nirāma Stages, and Prognosis of Fever

Devanagari script

मलप्रवृत्तिरुत्क्लेशः पच्यमानस्य लक्षणम् / जीर्णतामविपर्यासात्सप्तरात्रं च लङ्घनम्

Transliteration

malapravṛttirutkleśaḥ pacyamānasya lakṣaṇam / jīrṇatāmaviparyāsātsaptarātraṃ ca laṅghanam

Translation

मलप्रवृत्तिरुत्क्लेशश्च पच्यमानान्नलक्षणम्। जीर्णेऽन्नेऽविपर्यासे सति सप्तरात्रं लङ्घनं विधीयते॥

Word by Word

• मलप्रवृत्तिः: discharge/flow of excreta
• मलप्रवृत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मलस्य प्रवृत्तिः)

• उत्क्लेशः: nausea/retching
• उत्क्लेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पच्यमानस्य: of one who is being digested/undergoing digestion
• पच्यमानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पच् (धातु) → पच्यमान (कृदन्त, वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/आत्मनेपद-प्रयोगः)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्) ‘being cooked/digested’

• लक्षणम्: a sign/symptom
• लक्षणम्: Predicate/Viśeṣya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (अत्र विधेय-रूपे प्रथमा)

• जीर्णताम्: digested state/complete digestion
• जीर्णताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीर्णता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘state of being digested/old’

• अविपर्यासात्: from absence of reversal/complication
• अविपर्यासात्: Hetu/Apadāna (Cause/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + विपर्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘from non-reversal/without perversion’

• सप्तरात्रम्: for seven nights (a week)
• सप्तरात्रम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त रात्राः यस्य/सप्त रात्राणि)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• लङ्घनम्: fasting/abstention (from food)
• लङ्घनम्: Predicate/Viśeṣya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (अत्र विधेय-रूपे प्रथमा)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper signs of digestion and the disciplined use of fasting (laṅghana) as a corrective regimen.

Vedantic Theme: Deha as instrument (sādhana) requiring sattvic regulation; moderation and self-mastery support clarity.

Application: Observe digestion signs (stool passage, relief of distress); when digestion is stable, undertake a measured fast (here: seven nights) under appropriate guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.147 (Ayurveda/health regimen context)

FAQs

What is the importance of fasting (laṅghana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links laṅghana to bodily regulation and ritual readiness—fasting is advised after digestion is stable, supporting purity and discipline during rites connected with the preta context.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

While not describing the soul’s route directly, it provides the bodily/ritual framework—proper observance (including regulated fasting) is presented as part of the dharmic supports surrounding post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use fasting or dietary restraint only when digestion is normal, as a disciplined practice for clarity and ritual or devotional observance, rather than as a harsh or disruptive act.