Shloka 20

Vāta-vyādhi Nidāna and Lakṣaṇa: Obstruction, Dhātu-Seating, and Major Neuromuscular Entities

Devanagari script

प्राप्नोति च मुहुः स्वास्थ्यं मुहुरस्वास्थ्यवान्भवेत् / अभिघातसमुत्थश्च दुश्चिकित्स्यतमो मतः

Transliteration

prāpnoti ca muhuḥ svāsthyaṃ muhurasvāsthyavānbhavet / abhighātasamutthaśca duścikitsyatamo mataḥ

Translation

కొన్నిసార్లు ఆరోగ్యసదృశ స్థితిని పొందుతాడు, మరికొన్నిసార్లు మళ్లీ అస్వస్థుడవుతాడు; ఇది ఆఘాతం వల్ల పుట్టినదైతే, అత్యంత దుర్చికిత్స్యమని భావించబడింది.

Word by Word

• prāpnoti: attains
• prāpnoti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (प्र+आप्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• muhuḥ: repeatedly
• muhuḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (मुहुः, अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (repeatedly)

• svāsthyam: health
• svāsthyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāsthya (स्वास्थ्य, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• muhuḥ: again
• muhuḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (मुहुः, अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (again and again)

• asvāsthyavān: unhealthy
• asvāsthyavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-svāsthya (अस्वास्थ्य, प्रातिपदिक) + vat (वत्, तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू, धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• abhighāta-samutthaḥ: arising from injury/trauma
• abhighāta-samutthaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhighāta (अभिघात, प्रातिपदिक) + samuttha (समुत्थ, प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (अभिघातात् समुत्थः) विशेषण (vyādhiḥ)

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

• duścikitsyatamaḥ: most difficult to treat
• duścikitsyatamaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dus-cikitsya (दुश्चिकित्स्य, प्रातिपदिक) + tama (तम, तद्धित superlative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तमप्-प्रत्ययान्त (superlative)

• mataḥ: is regarded
• mataḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (मन्, धातु) → mata (मत, क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगार्थः (is considered)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Diseases may wax and wane; those arising from injury/abhighāta are especially difficult to treat.

Vedantic Theme: Dvandva (health/illness) as fluctuating states; cultivate steadiness and discernment amid impermanence.

Application: Do not be misled by temporary improvement; monitor closely, address underlying trauma, and plan sustained care/rehabilitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.166 (roga-vicāra: prognosis and treatability)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of fluctuating health described in the Garuda Purana?

The verse highlights that sudden improvements followed by relapse can occur near critical conditions, prompting vigilance and timely dharmic preparations rather than false certainty.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing unstable bodily health and hard-to-treat shock conditions, it underscores the fragility of the body before the soul’s transition, setting context for the post-death journey teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat temporary recovery as a window for reconciliation, prayer, and arranging rites; do not postpone essentials assuming the danger has passed.