Shloka 40

Pāṇḍu-Śotha Nidāna: Doṣa-wise Signs, Complications, and Prognosis

Devanagari script

मृदुश्चलो ऽवलम्बी च शीघ्रो दाहरुजाकरः / नवो ऽनुपद्रवः शोथः साध्यो ऽसाध्यः पुरेरितः

Transliteration

mṛduścalo 'valambī ca śīghro dāharujākaraḥ / navo 'nupadravaḥ śothaḥ sādhyo 'sādhyaḥ pureritaḥ

Translation

若肿胀柔软、可移、下垂，起得迅速并致灼热疼痛；若为新起且无并发，则称可治。若由盘踞于身内深处（pura）的失调所驱使，则判为难治、不可治。

Word by Word

• मृदुश्चलः: soft and mobile
• मृदुश्चलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक) + चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (मृदुः च चलः)

• अवलम्बी: hanging/pendent
• अवलम्बी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवलम्बिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; -इन्-प्रातिपदिक

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

• शीघ्रः: rapid
• शीघ्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दाहरुजाकरः: causing burning and pain
• दाहरुजाकरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक) + रुजा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दाहस्य रुजायाश्च करणः/कारकः)

• नवः: new/recent
• नवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अनुपद्रवः: without complications
• अनुपद्रवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु- (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + उपद्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्/अ-प्रत्यययुक्त-तत्पुरुषः (उपद्रवाभावः)

• शोथः: swelling
• शोथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• असाध्यः: incurable
• असाध्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (साध्याभावः)

• पुरेरितः: arising from within (lit. impelled from the ‘pura’)
• पुरेरितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईरित (कृदन्त, √ईर्/ईरय् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त/क्तवत्-प्रायः), षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरेण ईरितः = by the city/fort?; contextually ‘from within/inner origin’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discriminative diagnosis (lakṣaṇa) and prognosis (sādhya/asādhya) based on signs and depth of pathology.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) applied to embodied life; recognition of limits of intervention in prakṛti.

Application: Assess swelling by qualities (soft, mobile, pendulous, rapid onset, burning/pain), note complications and depth; treat early uncomplicated cases; counsel and palliate when deep-seated/inner-origin pathology indicates poor prognosis.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.162 (śotha/vidradhi-type diagnostic context); Garuda Purana 1.163 (visarpa nidāna and doṣa spread)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of śotha (swelling) prognosis in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives practical criteria—soft, mobile, pendulous, new, and uncomplicated swelling tends to be curable, while internally driven/entrenched swelling is described as difficult or incurable.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse is medical rather than afterlife-focused; it frames bodily signs (like swelling) as indicators of prognosis, reflecting the Purana’s broader aim of guiding right living and preparedness through knowledge.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat new, uncomplicated symptoms promptly and watch for red flags (persistent, internally rooted, worsening pain/burning), seeking qualified medical care early rather than delaying until complications arise.