Shloka 5

Devanagari script

नाभिपृष्ठं रुजत्याशु पार्श्वे चाहारमुत्क्षिपेत् / ततो विच्छ्रिन्नल्पाल्पकषायं फेनिलं वमेत्

Transliteration

nābhipṛṣṭhaṃ rujatyāśu pārśve cāhāramutkṣipet / tato vicchrinnalpālpakaṣāyaṃ phenilaṃ vamet

Translation

नाभिपृष्ठप्रदेशे आशु रुजा जायते, पार्श्वे च पीडा; तदा आहारं उत्क्षिपेत्। ततः पुनः पुनः अल्पाल्पं कषाययुक्तं फेनिलं च वमेत्।

Word by Word

• नाभिपृष्ठम्: the back/region of the navel
• नाभिपृष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक) + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नाभेः पृष्ठम्)

• रुजति: hurts, pains
• रुजति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ruj (रुज्/पीडने)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• पार्श्वे: in the side/flank
• पार्श्वे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• आहारम्: food
• आहारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्क्षिपेत्: would throw up, eject
• उत्क्षिपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut + √kṣip (क्षिप्/प्रक्षेपणे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/हेतुवाचक (then/thereupon)

• विच्छिन्न: broken, interrupted
• विच्छिन्न: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicchinna (कृदन्त; vi + √chid/छिद् past participle)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अल्पाल्पकषायम्: slightly astringent (only a little)
• अल्पाल्पकषायम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṣāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (अल्पः अल्पः कषायः यस्य)

• फेनिलम्: frothy
• फेनिलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phenila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वमेत्: would vomit
• वमेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vam (वम्/उद्गारे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body’s processes culminate in pain and expulsion; clinging to bodily comfort is unstable.

Vedantic Theme: Asat-like perishability of the body; disidentification (dehābhimāna-tyāga) supports inner freedom.

Application: Practice equanimity toward bodily discomfort; keep affairs and relationships resolved; maintain remembrance practices before severe decline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sequential symptom descriptions of dying (vomiting, pain, breath distress) in the same chapter context

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of describing such symptoms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as an ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa (ominous/critical sign), mapping bodily indicators of severe decline so one may turn to dharma, repentance, and proper rites with awareness.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey discussed in the Garuda Purana?

By noting intense pain and repeated bile-froth vomiting, the text highlights the body’s breakdown that precedes separation of the jīva from the gross body, setting the stage for post-death transitions and prescribed observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder to prepare ethically and spiritually—maintain dharmic living, keep end-of-life wishes/rites known, and seek timely medical care while cultivating remembrance of the divine.