Shloka 53

Cikitsā-sāra: Doṣa Nidāna–Lakṣaṇa, Agni, Ajīrṇa/Āma Cikitsā, Daśamūla, and Prognostic Signs

Devanagari script

गुल्फजानुललाटं च हनुर्गण्डस्तथैव च / भ्रष्टं स्थानच्युतं यस्य स जहात्यचिरादसून्

Transliteration

gulphajānulalāṭaṃ ca hanurgaṇḍastathaiva ca / bhraṣṭaṃ sthānacyutaṃ yasya sa jahātyacirādasūn

Translation

गुल्फजानुललाटं च हनुर्गण्डस्तथैव च । भ्रष्टं स्थानच्युतं यस्य स जहात्यचिरादसून् ॥

Word by Word

• गुल्फ: ankle
• गुल्फ: Karma/Predicate (Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्फ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (Masculine, Nom/Acc, Singular; member of compound)

• जानु: knee
• जानु: Karma/Predicate (Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; member of compound)

• ललाटम्: forehead (ankle-knee-forehead group)
• ललाटम्: Karma/Predicate (Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (गुल्फ+जानु+ललाट) (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हनुः: jaw
• हनुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• गण्डः: cheek
• गण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/only)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भ्रष्टम्: fallen, dislocated
• भ्रष्टम्: Karma/Predicate (Complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रष्ट (कृदन्त; √भ्रंश् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; fallen/displaced)

• स्थानच्युतम्: out of position
• स्थानच्युतम्: Karma/Predicate (Complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थान + च्युत (कृदन्त; √च्यु धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषभावः (स्थानात् च्युतम्) (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; displaced from its place)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-यत् (Masculine, Genitive, Singular; whose)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• जहाति: abandons, gives up
• जहाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन (Present, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

• अचिरात्: soon
• अचिरात्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अचिरात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: soon)

• असून्: vital breaths, life
• असून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain bodily dislocations are portents of prana’s imminent departure; embodied life is fragile and time-bound.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatva (impermanence) of the body; prana’s withdrawal as a sign that the jiva’s embodied tenure is ending.

Application: Recognize end-of-life signs; seek appropriate care, reconciliation, and spiritual preparation when such signs appear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168 (arishta-lakshana series)

Characters & Entities

• Prana (asūn)

FAQs

What is the importance of arishta-lakshanas (omens) in the Garuda Purana?

They function as warning-signs indicating that death may be near, prompting timely spiritual preparation such as remembrance of Bhagavan, repentance, charity, and arranging rites.

How does this verse explain the approach of death?

It links visible bodily abnormalities—limbs and facial parts seeming ‘out of place’—with the imminent departure of the life-breath (asūn), a classic omen-style description.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat severe, sudden bodily distortions as both a medical emergency and a cue for inner readiness—calm the mind, engage in prayer/mantra, and complete essential duties ethically.