Shloka 3

Kuṣṭha-bheda-lakṣaṇa-nidāna and Śvitra (Kilāsa) Prognosis

Devanagari script

दूषयन्ति च संशोष्य निश्चरन्तस्ततो बहिः / त्वचः कुर्वान्ति वैवर्ण्यं शिष्टाः कुष्ठमुशन्तितम्

Transliteration

dūṣayanti ca saṃśoṣya niścarantastato bahiḥ / tvacaḥ kurvānti vaivarṇyaṃ śiṣṭāḥ kuṣṭhamuśantitam

Translation

สิ่งเหล่านั้นย่อมทำให้ธาตุเสื่อมและแห้ง แล้วเคลื่อนออกสู่ภายนอกจนปรากฏ; ทำให้ผิวหนังเกิดความผิดเพี้ยนของสี—บัณฑิตเรียกอาการนี้ว่า ‘กุษฐะ’

Word by Word

• dūṣayanti: they corrupt/defile
• dūṣayanti: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dūṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपातः

• saṃśoṣya: having dried up
• saṃśoṣya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saṃ-śuṣ (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्, अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• niścarantaḥ: going out/emerging
• niścarantaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nis-car (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• tataḥ: from there/then
• tataḥ: Apādāna/Deśa (Source/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपादान/देशवाचक (from there/then)

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• tvacaḥ: of the skin
• tvacaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvac (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• kurvanti: they cause/make
• kurvanti: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• vaivarṇyam: discoloration
• vaivarṇyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaivarṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• śiṣṭāḥ: the learned/authorities
• śiṣṭāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣ (धातु) + ta (क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) से निष्पन्न विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'शिष्ट' = विद्वांसः/आचार्याः (the learned)

• kuṣṭham: leprosy/skin disease
• kuṣṭham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• uśanti: consider/call
• uśanti: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vaś (धातु, इच्छायाम्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; 'उश्' धातोः प्रयोगः = इच्छन्ति/मन्यन्ते

• itam: this
• itam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Dhanvantari

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Inner corruption (from karmic/behavioral causes) progresses to outward manifestation; disease is a revealed consequence, not merely accidental.

Vedantic Theme: Cause-effect continuity (kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva) in embodied life; the subtle becoming gross and perceptible.

Application: Do not ignore early internal signs; address root causes (diet, conduct, mental hostility) before disease externalizes and becomes chronic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: microcosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Dhanvantari’s descriptions of roga progression; references to kuṣṭha as severe, socially marked disease in medical-dharma contexts

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari
• Kuṣṭha

FAQs

What symptom of kuṣṭha is highlighted in this verse?

It emphasizes vaivarṇya—discoloration or abnormal change in skin color—as a key outward sign.

How does the verse describe the disease process?

It portrays impurities that first vitiate and dry tissues, then move outward through channels and manifest externally on the skin.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as an ethical reminder—avoid harmful actions and habits—and as a prompt for early attention to persistent skin changes with proper healthcare.