Shloka 9

Kāsa-bheda: The Fivefold Classification of Cough and Its Clinical Signs

Devanagari script

कण्ठे प्रलेपमदजं पीनसच्छर्द्यरोचकाः / रोमहर्षो धनस्निग्धंश्लेष्मणाञ्च प्रवर्तनम्

Transliteration

kaṇṭhe pralepamadajaṃ pīnasacchardyarocakāḥ / romaharṣo dhanasnigdhaṃśleṣmaṇāñca pravartanam

Translation

喉中覆有黏滑之涎膜，并起恶心；继而鼻塞、呕吐、食欲减退；汗毛竖立，痰液转为浓稠油腻，随之翻动增盛而外泄。

Word by Word

• कण्ठे: in the throat
• कण्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• प्रलेप: coating, smear
• प्रलेप: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; लक्षण/विकार-निर्देश (symptom as subject)

• मदजम्: arising from intoxication (or morbid excitement)
• मदजम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदज (प्रातिपदिक; मद + ज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्रलेप)

• पीनस: coryza, nasal catarrh
• पीनस: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीनस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; लक्षण (symptom)

• छर्दि: vomiting
• छर्दि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छर्दि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; लक्षण (symptom)

• अरोचकाः: loss of appetite, anorexia
• अरोचकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरोचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; लक्षण (symptom)

• रोमहर्षः: horripilation, gooseflesh
• रोमहर्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमहर्ष (प्रातिपदिक; रोमन् + हर्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; लक्षण (symptom)

• धन: thick, dense
• धन: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-उपसर्गार्थे/विशेषण; (धन = घन) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्निग्धम्)

• स्निग्धम्: unctuous, oily
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying श्लेष्म)

• श्लेष्मणाम्: of phlegm (kapha)
• श्लेष्मणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रवर्तनम्: flowing/expectoration, discharge
• प्रवर्तनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; लक्षण (symptom)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Observation of kapha aggravation signs (śleṣma-vikāra) and their progression in the throat and upper channels.

Vedantic Theme: Deha-anityatā (the body’s vulnerability) as a spur to viveka; practical knowledge for sustaining dharma through health.

Application: Recognize early kapha signs (throat coating, nausea, congestion, anorexia) and adopt kapha-pacifying regimen (light, warm diet; avoid heavy/unctuous foods; rest; seek vaidya).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.149 (medical/roga-nidāna sequence on vāta-pitta-kapha aggravation and symptoms)

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily symptoms like throat coating and vomiting in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific observable signs—throat coating, nausea, congestion, vomiting, anorexia, and phlegm aggravation—used in the text’s broader discussion of bodily conditions and omens surrounding sickness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by detailing physical disturbances and decline, it supports the Garuda Purana’s wider Preta Kanda narrative where bodily changes accompany the transition toward death and the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat these as warning signs to seek timely care, maintain cleanliness of diet and habits, and prepare spiritually (japa, prayer, and ethical living) when health visibly deteriorates.