Shloka 3
Kāsa-bheda: The Fivefold Classification of Cough and Its Clinical Signs
शुष्ककर्णास्यकण्ठत्वं तत्राधोविहितो ऽनिलः / ऊर्ध्वं प्रवृत्तः प्राप्यो रस्तस्मिन्कण्ठे च संसृजन्
śuṣkakarṇāsyakaṇṭhatvaṃ tatrādhovihito 'nilaḥ / ūrdhvaṃ pravṛttaḥ prāpyo rastasminkaṇṭhe ca saṃsṛjan
ในภาวะนั้น หู ปาก และลำคอแห้งผาก อนิล (ปราณวายุ) ถูกกดให้ลงต่ำ ครั้นพยายามเคลื่อนขึ้นเบื้องบนจึงถึงลำคอ และเมื่อสัญจรอยู่ที่นั่นย่อมก่อเสียงแหบกระด้าง
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Pathogenesis of cough: dryness of ear-mouth-throat and disordered vāyu—pressed downward then surging upward—reaches the throat and generates a rasping sound.
Vedantic Theme: Observation of guṇa/doṣa dynamics in the body; knowledge of causation enables skillful action (yukti).
Application: Address dryness and vāta aggravation; soothe throat, normalize vāyu direction (anulomana), and treat the underlying doṣa to reduce rasping cough.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149 (kāsa-lakṣaṇa and vāyu gati)
FAQs
This verse links the dying process to the movement of anila/prāṇa—when it is obstructed and then rises toward the throat, characteristic end-of-life symptoms appear.
It describes a physiological-subtle sign (prāṇa moving upward to the throat) that accompanies the transition, indicating the body’s systems failing as the jīva prepares to depart.
It encourages mindful end-of-life care—calm surroundings, prayer/recitation, and supportive rites—recognizing the sensitive prāṇa transition described in the text.