Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 24

Cikitsā-sāra: Doṣa Nidāna–Lakṣaṇa, Agni, Ajīrṇa/Āma Cikitsā, Daśamūla, and Prognostic Signs

Devanagari script

भिषग्भेषजरोगार्तपरिचारकसम्पदः / चिकित्साङ्गानिचत्वारि विपरीतान्यसिद्धये

Transliteration

bhiṣagbheṣajarogārtaparicārakasampadaḥ / cikitsāṅgānicatvāri viparītānyasiddhaye

Translation

طبیب، دوا، مرض میں مبتلا مریض اور تیماردار—یہ علاج کے چار اعضاء ہیں۔ ان میں سے کوئی ایک بھی خلافِ حال یا ناقص ہو تو کامیابی حاصل نہیں ہوتی۔

Word by Word

• भिषग्भेषजरोगार्तपरिचारकसम्पदः: the resources/constituents: physician, medicine, patient, and attendant
• भिषग्भेषजरोगार्तपरिचारकसम्पदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिषज् (प्रातिपदिक) + भेषज (प्रातिपदिक) + रोगार्त (प्रातिपदिक; रोग + आर्त) + परिचारक (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पद्/सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः (चिकित्साङ्गानि: physician, medicine, patient, attendant), बहुवचन-रूपम्

• चिकित्साङ्गानि: the limbs/factors of treatment
• चिकित्साङ्गानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकित्सा (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चिकित्सायाः अङ्गानि)

• चत्वारि: four
• चत्वारि: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (qualifying अङ्गानि)

• विपरीतानि: contrary; improper
• विपरीतानि: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (चिकित्साङ्गानि)

• असिद्धये: for non-accomplishment; for failure
• असिद्धये: Sampradana (Purpose/recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (dative of purpose)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Chikitsa depends on four coordinated limbs—physician, medicine, patient, attendant; defect in any undermines success.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence (paraspara-sambandha) and causality: outcomes arise from a complete set of enabling conditions (sahakari-karana).

Application: In healthcare, ensure competence, correct medication, patient adherence/fitness, and proper nursing/support; treat failures as system-level gaps, not only drug choice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.168.25 (clinical assessment and appropriateness)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What are the four essentials of successful treatment mentioned in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists four: a competent physician, an appropriate medicine, a treatable/fit patient, and a proper attendant; if any one is defective, treatment fails.

How does this verse reflect Garuda Purana’s practical teaching style?

Instead of only metaphysical themes, it also preserves applied dharma—here, a concise medical rule showing that outcomes depend on aligned causes and proper support.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Evaluate all four pillars: verify practitioner competence, ensure correct medication, assess patient compliance/strength, and arrange good care/support during recovery.