Shloka 84

Jvara-Nidāna-Lakṣaṇa: Causes, Doṣic Types, Āma/Nirāma Stages, and Prognosis of Fever

Devanagari script

रसरक्ताश्रयः साध्यो मांस मेदोगतश्च यः / अस्थिमज्जागतः कृच्छ्रस्तैस्तैः स्वाङ्गैर्हतप्रभः

Transliteration

rasaraktāśrayaḥ sādhyo māṃsa medogataśca yaḥ / asthimajjāgataḥ kṛcchrastaistaiḥ svāṅgairhataprabhaḥ

Translation

病若依止于体液与血分，尚可医治；入于肌肉与脂肪者，亦仍可调治。然一旦深入骨与髓，便极难救疗，自身诸肢亦失其生气与光泽。

Word by Word

• रसरक्ताश्रयः: having its seat in plasma and blood
• रसरक्ताश्रयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस + रक्त + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः रस-रक्तयोः आश्रयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• साध्यः: curable
• साध्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘curable/treatable’

• मांस: flesh
• मांस: Sambandha (Compound member/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• मेदोगतः: gone into fat tissue
• मेदोगतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेदस् + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः मेदसि गतः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यः: which/that (one)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• अस्थिमज्जागतः: gone into bone and marrow
• अस्थिमज्जागतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थि + मज्जा + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः अस्थि-मज्जायाम् गतः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• कृच्छ्रः: severe/difficult (to cure)
• कृच्छ्रः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘difficult/severe’

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• स्वाङ्गैः: by one’s own limbs
• स्वाङ्गैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः स्वस्य अङ्गानि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• हतप्रभः: with luster diminished
• हतप्रभः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः हता प्रभा यस्य (बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थे प्रचलित), रूपतः तत्पुरुषवत्; अर्थः ‘diminished luster’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Depth of disease infiltration determines curability: rasa/rakta easier, mamsa/medas harder, asthi/majja extremely difficult with systemic debility.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence of bodily strength and luster; cultivate non-attachment while acting wisely to preserve health.

Application: Seek early intervention; treat illness before it penetrates deeper tissues; use tissue-level assessment for prognosis and intensity of care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.147.85-86 (acute signs and convalescence markers)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing disease stages in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes timely correction—when imbalance is addressed early (rasa/rakta), it is manageable; when neglected until deeper tissues (asthi/majjā), it becomes hard to remedy, reinforcing disciplined living and prompt care.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

It uses a graded model (surface to deep tissues) to illustrate how problems intensify when ignored—an idea echoed in the Purana’s ethical framework where small lapses can harden into severe consequences over time.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Address issues early—health, habits, and ethics—through prompt treatment, moderation, and corrective discipline before they become entrenched and difficult to reverse.