Shloka 1
Causes and Signs of Hṛdroga
Heart Disease) and Tṛṣṇā (Pathological Thirst
त्रिपञ्चाशदुत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः धन्वन्तरिरुवाच / हृद्रोगादिनिदानं ते वक्ष्ये ऽहं सुश्रुताधुना / कृमिहृद्रोगलिङ्गैश्च स्मृताः पञ्च तु हृद्गताः
tripañcāśaduttaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ dhanvantariruvāca / hṛdrogādinidānaṃ te vakṣye 'haṃ suśrutādhunā / kṛmihṛdrogaliṅgaiśca smṛtāḥ pañca tu hṛdgatāḥ
त्रिपञ्चाशदुत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः। धन्वन्तरिरुवाच—सुश्रुतपरम्परया हृद्रोगादिनिदानं तेऽधुना वक्ष्ये। कृमिहृद्रोगलिङ्गैः सह हृद्गताः पञ्च व्याधयः स्मृताः।
Dhanvantari
Concept: Nidāna (causation) and lakṣaṇa (signs) are to be taught systematically; heart diseases include kṛmija varieties and are classified (fivefold) as hṛd-gata.
Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-pramāṇa (reliance on authoritative teaching) and disciplined inquiry as supports for right action.
Application: Approach hṛdroga through structured diagnosis: learn causes and symptom clusters, including worm-born heart disorders, before choosing therapy.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.153.8-10 (preceding medical symptomology leading into hṛdroga topic); Garuda Purana 1.154.2 (vāta-type hṛdroga lakṣaṇas begin)
FAQs
The verse frames the chapter as a diagnostic teaching: knowing nidāna (etiology) and liṅga (symptoms) is presented as the correct method to understand and manage hṛdroga (heart disease).
It explicitly says the explanation is “suśruta-adhunā,” indicating the chapter follows the Suśruta medical lineage, with Dhanvantari speaking as the authoritative teacher of healing.
Use the principle of nidāna and liṅga: observe symptoms carefully and address root causes (diet, lifestyle, infections/parasites) rather than treating only surface discomfort.