Shloka 31

Kuṣṭha-bheda-lakṣaṇa-nidāna and Śvitra (Kilāsa) Prognosis

Devanagari script

कुष्ठोक्तं यच्च यच्चास्थिमज्जाशुक्रसमाश्रयम् / कृच्छ्रं मेदोमतञ्चैव याप्यं स्नाप्वास्थिमांसगम्

Transliteration

kuṣṭhoktaṃ yacca yaccāsthimajjāśukrasamāśrayam / kṛcchraṃ medomatañcaiva yāpyaṃ snāpvāsthimāṃsagam

Translation

凡被称为库ṣṭha（皮肤病）者，以及寄居于骨、骨髓与精液之中者——皆名为kṛcchra，属重症。与脂肪组织相系者亦复如是；而遍入筋腱、骨与肉者，则称为yāpya：虽为久病，仍可调治而得以控制。

Word by Word

• कुष्ठोक्तम्: said/mentioned as (a type of) leprosy
• कुष्ठोक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त, √वच्/वद्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि (क्त) ‘उक्त’ = said/mentioned; तत्पुरुषसमासः (कुष्ठे उक्तम्)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

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

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-सम्बन्धसूचक

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

• अस्थिमज्जाशुक्रसमाश्रयम्: located in bone, marrow and semen
• अस्थिमज्जाशुक्रसमाश्रयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + समाश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (अस्थि-मज्जा-शुक्रे समाश्रयः यस्य/यत्) ‘having its seat in bone, marrow and semen’

• कृच्छ्रम्: severe/difficult
• कृच्छ्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मेदोमतम्: associated with fat tissue
• मेदोमतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मेदसा मतम्/युक्तम्)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• याप्यम्: palliable/only manageable
• याप्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘याप्य’ = manageable/only palliable

• स्नापु: tendon/ligament
• स्नापु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पाठभेद/सन्ध्यन्तरं: ‘स्नापु’ = ‘स्नायु’ (tendon/ligament)

• अस्थिमांसगम्: gone into bone and flesh
• अस्थिमांसगम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अस्थि-मांसयोः गतम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discrimination of disease by tissue-depth (dhatu-ashraya) and prognosis (krcchra vs yapya).

Vedantic Theme: Deha as anitya; knowledge (viveka) applied to embodied conditions without mistaking body for Self.

Application: Use depth of involvement (skin vs bone/marrow/semen) to judge severity and manage expectations; prioritize early intervention before deeper dhatus are affected.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.164.32-35 (progression of kustha by dosha/dhatu involvement)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of kuṣṭha classification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies kuṣṭha by the deeper bodily tissues it occupies—bone, marrow, semen, fat, sinews, and flesh—implying that deeper tissue involvement makes the condition harder and more chronic.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links embodied suffering to the condition of the physical body; in Garuda Purana’s broader teaching, bodily afflictions are part of lived consequences that shape one’s conduct and purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat chronic illness seriously and early: the verse emphasizes that deeper systemic involvement is harder to cure, encouraging timely care, disciplined living, and ethical conduct.