A Comprehensive Guide to Ayurvedic Specialties
Shloka 10 and 11 explanation
श्लोक:
वेगस्तीक्ष्णोऽतिसारश्च निद्राल्पत्वं तथा वमिः ।
कण्ठौष्ठमुखनासानां पाकः स्वेदश्च जायते ।। १० ।।
प्रलापो वक्रकटुता मूर्च्छा दाहो मदस्तृषा ।
पीतविण्मूत्रनेत्रत्वं पैत्तिके भ्रम एव च ।। ११ ।।
Transliteration:
vegastīkṣṇo'tisāraśca nidrālatvaṃ tathā vamiḥ |
kaṇṭhauṣṭhamukhanāsānāṃ pākaḥ svedaśca jāyate || 10 ||
pralāpo vakrakatuṭā mūrcchā dāho madastṛṣā |
pītaviṇmūtranetratvaṃ paittike bhrama eva ca || 11 ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (Padānvaya Arthah)
From Shloka 10:
Vegaḥ: Urge (to defecate)
Tīkṣṇaḥ: Sharp, severe, acute
Atisāraḥ: Diarrhea
Ca: And
Nidrā-Alpatvam: Scant sleep (insomnia)
Tathā: As well as
Vamiḥ: Vomiting
Kaṇṭha- Throat
Oṣṭha- Lips
Mukha- Mouth
Nāsānām: Of the nose
Pākaḥ: Burning sensation, inflammation, suppuration
Svedaḥ: Sweating
Ca: And
Jāyate: Occurs, is produced
From Shloka 11:
Pralāpaḥ: Delirium, incoherent talk
Vakra-Kaṭutā: (Vakra) Harsh, crooked; (Kaṭutā) Pungency - Bitter and pungent taste in the mouth
Mūrcchā: Fainting, loss of consciousness
Dāhaḥ: Burning sensation (all over the body or internally)
Madaḥ: Intoxication, dizziness
Tṛṣā: Thirst
Pīta- Yellow
Viṭ- Stool
Mūtra- Urine
Netratvam: State of the eyes
Paittike: In the Pittaja type (of Atisara)
Bhramaḥ: Delusion, giddiness, confusion
Eva ca: And also
Overall Meaning (Saṅgraha Arthah)
These two shlokas comprehensively list the signs and symptoms of Pittaja Atisara (Diarrhea caused by aggravated Pitta dosha). The pathogenesis involves Pitta, with its hot, sharp, liquid, and spreading properties, moving downward through the digestive tract, causing rapid, forceful diarrhea accompanied by intense heat-related symptoms throughout the body.
Detailed Vyakhyanam (Explanation of Symptoms)
The symptoms can be categorized based on the action of vitiated Pitta:
1. Gastrointestinal Symptoms (Annavaha Srotas Dushti):
Tīkṣṇaḥ Vegaḥ: The urge to pass stool is sudden, intense, and urgent. This is due to the sharp (Tīkṣṇa) and fluid (Drava) properties of Pitta.
Atisāraḥ: The diarrhea itself is often watery, hot, and may have a foul smell.
Pīta-Viṭ: The stool is yellowish or greenish in color, which is a classic sign of Pitta involvement, as yellow is its color.
Vamiḥ: Vomiting can occur because the aggravated Pitta, located in the stomach (its main site), can also move upwards (Urdhvaga Gati).
2. Symptoms of Increased Heat (Dāha Lakṣaṇāni):
Pitta's primary quality is heat (Ushna). This manifests as:
Dāhaḥ: A burning sensation in the entire body, especially in the abdomen, throat, and anus (while passing stool).
Kaṇṭha-Oṣṭha-Mukha-Nāsānāṃ Pākaḥ: Burning and inflammation in the throat, lips, mouth, and nose. The mucous membranes dry out and become inflamed due to the internal heat.
Svedaḥ: Profuse sweating is the body's attempt to cool down the excessive internal heat.
Tṛṣā: Excessive thirst for cold drinks due to dehydration and the need to quench the internal heat.
3. Symptoms of Toxicity and Systemic Involvement (Sāra-Saṃsṛṣṭa Lakṣaṇāni):
When Pitta becomes severely vitiated, it acts like a toxin and affects the mind and senses.
Bhrama/Madaḥ: Giddiness, dizziness, or a feeling of intoxication. This is due to the sharp quality of Pitta affecting the nervous system.
Mūrcchā: Fainting spells caused by the intense heat, dehydration, and the toxic effect on the mind.
Pralāpaḥ: Delirium or incoherent talking. This indicates that the heat has reached the heart (a seat of consciousness) and mind, affecting mental faculties.
Nidrā-Alpatvam: Sleeplessness or disturbed sleep. Pitta governs the metabolic and awake state. Its aggravation disrupts the natural cycle of sleep, leading to insomnia.
4. Other Characteristic Symptoms:
Vakra-Kaṭutā: A bitter or pungent taste in the mouth. This is a direct reflection of the aggravated Pitta in the stomach and small intestine.
Pīta-Mūtra-Netratvam: The urine and eyes become yellow. This is a key diagnostic feature. The excess Pitta (bilirubin) in the blood is excreted through urine and gets deposited in the eyes, causing yellowing (a sign of possible jaundice, which can accompany severe Pittaja conditions).
Pīta-Viṭ: Reiterated for importance - yellow stool.