Shloka 3

Aśva–Gaja Āyurveda: Marks, Defects, Wounds, Doṣa-Therapy, and Protective Rites

Devanagari script

मार्जारपादो व्याघ्राभः कुष्ठविद्रधिसन्निभः / यमजो वामनश्चैव मार्जारः कपिलोचनः

Transliteration

mārjārapādo vyāghrābhaḥ kuṣṭhavidradhisannibhaḥ / yamajo vāmanaścaiva mārjāraḥ kapilocanaḥ

Translation

मार्जारपादो व्याघ्राभः कुष्ठविद्रधिसन्निभः। यमजो वामनश्चैव मार्जारः कपिलोचनः॥

Word by Word

• मार्जारपादः: cat-footed
• मार्जारपादः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘मार्जारस्य पादः इव/मार्जारपादः’ (cat-footed)

• व्याघ्राभः: tiger-like
• व्याघ्राभः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘व्याघ्रस्य आभा/सदृशः’ (tiger-like)

• कुष्ठविद्रधिसन्निभः: resembling leprosy and abscess
• कुष्ठविद्रधिसन्निभः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्रधि (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘कुष्ठ-विद्रधि-सदृशः’ (resembling leprosy/abscess)

• यमजः: born of Yama; twin-born
• यमजः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त; √जन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘यमात् जातः’ (born of Yama; twin-like)

• वामनः: dwarfish
• वामनः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• मार्जारः: cat
• मार्जारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कपिलोचनः: tawny-eyed
• कपिलोचनः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘कपिले लोचने यस्य’ (having tawny eyes)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The dread of Yamadūtas symbolizes the moral gravity of actions and the inevitability of karmic reckoning.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra-bhaya (fear of transmigration) as a spur toward dharma and liberation-oriented living.

Application: Let the imagery function as ethical vigilance: reduce harm, cultivate truthfulness, restraint, and remembrance of the divine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: lists of Yamadūta names/forms and their functions (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Yama’s fearsome beings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists frightening names/forms to convey the dread of Yama’s domain and to warn that sinful conduct leads to terrifying encounters in the post-death journey.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By naming Yama-born, animal-like and disease-like forms, the text signals that the soul’s passage is overseen by Yama’s forces, and that the experience can become fearful according to one’s karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to avoid harmful actions and to follow dharma; practitioners also take it as motivation to perform prescribed rites and charity with sincerity to reduce fear and suffering after death.