Shloka 17

Kāsa-bheda: The Fivefold Classification of Cough and Its Clinical Signs

Devanagari script

सुप्यते तुद्यत इव हृदयं पचतीव च / अकस्मादुष्णशीतेच्छा बह्वाशित्वं बलक्षयः

Transliteration

supyate tudyata iva hṛdayaṃ pacatīva ca / akasmāduṣṇaśītecchā bahvāśitvaṃ balakṣayaḥ

Translation

เขาหลับราวกับถูกกระแทก หัวใจรู้สึกเหมือนถูกแทงและเหมือนถูกเผา อยู่ๆ ก็อยากได้ความร้อนหรือความเย็น กินจุ และกำลังวังชาร่อยหรอ

Word by Word

• सुप्यते: becomes numb/feels asleep
• सुप्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि-प्रयोग (it becomes numb/sleeps)

• तुद्यते: is pained/pricked
• तुद्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (is pricked/tormented)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पचति: burns/is inflamed
• पचति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (Comparative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अकस्मात्: suddenly
• अकस्मात्: Adverbial (Manner/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अकस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आकस्मिकार्थक (suddenly)

• उष्ण: hot
• उष्ण: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (in compound)

• शीत: cold
• शीत: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (in compound)

• इच्छा: craving for hot and cold (alternating)
• इच्छा: Karta/Predicate-noun (Symptom/लक्षण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपदसमाहार (उष्ण-शीत-इच्छा = desire for hot and cold)

• बहु: much/excessive
• बहु: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (in compound)

• आशित्वम्: excessive eating
• आशित्वम्: Karta/Predicate-noun (Symptom/लक्षण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अश् धातोः) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (त्व) = state; तत्पुरुष (बहु-आशित्वम् = state of eating much)

• बल: strength
• बल: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (in compound)

• क्षयः: loss of strength
• क्षयः: Karta/Predicate-noun (Symptom/लक्षण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बल-क्षयः = loss of strength)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Mixed

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body’s sensations and cravings become unreliable under disease; strength is not under egoic control.

Vedantic Theme: Mind-body fluctuations (vikāra) are not the Self; cultivate sākṣitva (witnessing).

Application: Notice dysregulated cravings and fatigue as warning signs; practice moderation and seek care; maintain mental witnessing rather than panic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149 (progressive kṣaya signs)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

They are described as bodily and inner indicators that the life-force is destabilizing and the person is approaching a major transition, prompting remembrance of dharma and spiritual preparation.

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

By highlighting distress and abnormal cravings, the verse frames death as a process where the embodied system weakens—setting the stage for the jīva’s separation from the body and the subsequent after-death journey described later in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sudden unexplained weakness and mental disturbance as a cue to steady the mind, reduce harmful actions, increase prayer/recitation, and attend to end-of-life duties and reconciliation while time remains.