A Comprehensive Guide to Ayurvedic Specialties
वेपथुर्विषमो वेगः कण्ठौष्ठपरिशोषणम् ।
निद्रानाशः क्षवस्तम्भो गात्राणां रौक्ष्यमेव च ॥ ८ ॥
Vepathur vishamo vegaḥ kaṇṭhauṣṭha pariśoṣaṇam |
Nidrānāśaḥ kṣavastambho gātrāṇāṁ raukṣyam eva ca || 8 ||
शिरोहृद्गात्ररुग्वक्रवैरस्यं गाढविट्कता ।
शूलाध्माने जृम्भणं च भवन्त्यनिलजे ज्वरे ।।९।।
Śirohṛdgātrarug vakravairsyaṁ gāḍhaviṭkatā |
Śūlādhmāne jṛmbhaṇaṁ ca bhavantyanilaje jware || 9 ||
Overall Meaning (Sangraha Arthah)
These two verses list the key symptoms that manifest when a fever (Jwara) is caused by an aggravated Vata dosha. Vata is dry, light, mobile, cold, and rough. Therefore, the symptoms reflect these qualities, including shaking, dryness, pain, constipation, and irregularity in the body's functions.
Detailed Explanation (Vistrut Vyakhyanam)
The symptoms can be broken down and explained individually:
From Verse 8 (Shloka 8)
1. वेपथुः (Vepathuḥ)
Meaning: Tremors, shivering, involuntary shaking of the body.
Explanation: This is a hallmark symptom of Vata. The light and mobile nature of aggravated Vata causes uncontrollable movements and shaking throughout the body.
2. विषमः वेगः (Vishamaḥ Vegaḥ)
Meaning: Irregular or intermittent onset (of the fever).
Explanation: Unlike Pitta fever, which has a consistent and high intensity, or Kapha fever, which is steady and low-grade, Vata fever is unpredictable. The intensity and timing of the fever spikes are irregular and variable, mirroring the erratic nature of Vata.
3. कण्ठौष्ठपरिशोषणम् (Kaṇṭhauṣṭha Pariśoṣaṇam)
Meaning: Dryness of the throat (kantha) and lips (oshtha).
Explanation: The dry (ruksha) quality of Vata depletes moisture, leading to significant dryness in the mouth, throat, and lips.
4. निद्रानाशः (Nidrānāśaḥ)
Meaning: Loss of sleep, insomnia.
Explanation: Vata governs the nervous system and movement of thoughts. Its agitation disrupts the mind's calmness, making it difficult to fall or stay asleep.
5. क्षवस्तम्भः (Kṣavastambhaḥ)
Meaning: Suppression of sneezing.
Explanation: Vata governs all impulses and movements in the body, including the natural urge to sneeze. Its vitiation can block or suppress these normal reflexes.
6. गात्राणां रौक्ष्यमेव च (Gātrāṇāṁ Raukṣyam Eva Ca)
Meaning: And also, roughness/dryness of the limbs (and entire body).
Explanation: The pervasive dry quality of Vata makes the skin all over the body feel rough, scaly, and lacking in natural oils or moisture.
From Verse 9 (Shloka 9)
7. शिरोहृद्गात्ररुक् (Śirohṛdgātraruk)
Meaning: Pain in the head (shira), heart region (hrid), and body (gatra).
Explanation: Vata's mobile and subtle nature easily obstructs channels and creates pain, which is often shifting, throbbing, or splitting in character. Headaches and generalized body aches are very common.
8. वक्रवैरस्यं (Vakravairsyam)
Meaning: Perversion of taste (bad taste in the mouth) or lack of taste.
Explanation: Vata's irregular movement affects the sense organs. It can cause a distorted sense of taste, often leading to a bitter, astringent, or simply absent taste perception.
9. गाढविट्कता (Gāḍhaviṭkatā)
Meaning: Hardness of stool, constipation.
Explanation: This is a crucial symptom. Vata's dry and rough qualities absorb moisture from the intestines, making the stool hard, dry, and difficult to pass. This is a primary cause of Vata imbalance.
10. शूलाध्माने (Śūlādhmāne)
Meaning: Colicky pain (shula) and bloating/distension (aadhmana) of the abdomen.
Explanation: Vata's movement creates gas and turbulence in the intestines, leading to severe, cramping abdominal pain and significant bloating or distension.
11. जृम्भणं (Jṛmbhaṇaṁ)
Meaning: Frequent yawning.
Explanation: Yawning is the body's attempt to regulate Pranavayu (a sub-dosha of Vata). In Vata aggravation, this reflex becomes excessive as the body struggles to maintain equilibrium in the vital energy.