Shloka 18

Atīsāra (Diarrhoea) and Grahaṇī-doṣa: Causes, Prodromal Signs, Doṣa-wise Symptoms, and Major-Disease Status

Devanagari script

प्राग्रूपाङ्गस्य सदनं चिरात्पवन अल्पकः / प्रसेको वक्त्रवैरस्यमरुचिस्तृट्श्रमोभ्रमः

Transliteration

prāgrūpāṅgasya sadanaṃ cirātpavana alpakaḥ / praseko vaktravairasyamarucistṛṭśramobhramaḥ

Translation

దేహం ముందే క్షీణించి వికృతమై ఉన్నవాడికి ఈ స్థితి దీర్ఘకాలం నిలుస్తుంది; ప్రాణవాయువు కూడా అల్పమవుతుంది. లాలాజలం కారడం, నోటిలో దుర్గంధం/చేడు రుచి, అరుచి, దాహం, శ్రమ మరియు భ్రమ (తల తిరగడం) కలుగుతాయి.

Word by Word

• प्राग्रूपाङ्गस्य: of the prodromal stage (pre-symptom complex)
• प्राग्रूपाङ्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राग्रूप-अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; प्राग्रूप + अङ्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (aṅga of prāgrūpa = prodromal stage)

• सदनम्: weakness/decline
• सदनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चिरात्: after long time/long-lasting
• चिरात्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (after a long time/long-lastingly)

• पवनः: vāta (wind humour)
• पवनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अल्पकः: slight/mild
• अल्पकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रसेकः: salivation
• प्रसेकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वक्त्रवैरस्यम्: bad taste in the mouth
• वक्त्रवैरस्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र-वैरस्य (प्रातिपदिक; वक्त्र + वैरस्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (vairasya in mouth)

• अरुचिः: loss of appetite
• अरुचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तृट्: thirst
• तृट्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रमः: fatigue
• श्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भ्रमः: giddiness/dizziness
• भ्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unchecked disorder leads to progressive depletion (kṣaya) and prāṇa diminution; consequences unfold over time if not corrected.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence of bodily strength; urgency to use the body wisely as a vehicle for higher aims.

Application: Treat chronic digestive disorder early; monitor systemic signs (thirst, fatigue, dizziness, taste changes, drooling) as red flags for depletion and dehydration; prioritize nourishment that rekindles agni without producing āma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.157.17 (chronic grahaṇī and its types); Garuda Purana 1.157.14-16 (atisāra leading to grahaṇī; debility)

Characters & Entities

• Prana (Pavana)

FAQs

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

This verse lists observable signs of prāṇa (life-breath) weakening and bodily decline, helping identify the transition toward the preta-state and prompting timely dharmic preparations and rites.

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

By emphasizing the diminishing of pavana (prāṇa) and the body’s degeneration, it frames death as a gradual separation process—where physiological signs accompany the soul’s impending departure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to support the dying with calmness, cleanliness, hydration as appropriate, and timely spiritual practices (japa, prayer, charity), while preparing for proper last rites according to dharma.