Vāta-vyādhi Nidāna and Lakṣaṇa: Obstruction, Dhātu-Seating, and Major Neuromuscular Entities
श्यामाङ्गमङ्गस्तैमित्यतन्द्रामूर्छारुचिज्वरैः / तमूरुस्तम्भमित्याह बाह्यवातमथापरे
śyāmāṅgamaṅgastaimityatandrāmūrchārucijvaraiḥ / tamūrustambhamityāha bāhyavātamathāpare
เมื่อแขนขาดำคล้ำ กายมึนชาและแข็งตึง มีง่วงซึม เป็นลม เบื่ออาหาร และมีไข้—ภาวะนี้เรียกว่า “อูรุ-สตัมภะ”; บางท่านเรียกว่า “พาหยะ-วาตะ”
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra, continuing the chapter’s instructional tone)
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Syndromic recognition: a cluster of signs (śyāma-aṅga, aṅga-staimitya, tandrā, mūrcchā, aruci, jvara) defines ūru-stambha; alternative nosology calls it bāhya-vāta.
Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-jñāna vs paramārtha: precise naming and observation operate in the empirical realm to reduce duḥkha.
Application: Use symptom clusters for early diagnosis; distinguish kapha-āvaraṇa/vāta involvement; seek timely treatment when numbness, discoloration, and systemic features co-occur.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.166: disease names and lakṣaṇa-based diagnosis (ūru-stambha, bāhya-vāta)
This verse preserves a diagnostic description: darkened limbs, numbness, drowsiness, fainting, appetite loss, and fever—used to identify ūru-stambha/bāhya-vāta as a vāta-dominant disorder.
It does not describe the soul’s journey here; instead, it reflects Garuda Purana’s broader role as a compendium that also records practical knowledge like disease signs alongside spiritual instruction.
Treat the verse as an early symptom checklist: persistent numbness/stiffness with systemic signs (fever, appetite loss, faintness) warrants timely medical evaluation rather than neglect.