Shloka 18

Oṣadhi-nāma-nirdeśa: Paryāya (Synonyms) of Herbs, Minerals, and Classical Measures

Devanagari script

मूर्वा मधुरसा ज्ञेया तेजनी तिक्तवल्लिका / महानिम्बो बृहन्निम्बो दीप्यकः स्याद्यवानिका

Transliteration

mūrvā madhurasā jñeyā tejanī tiktavallikā / mahānimbo bṛhannimbo dīpyakaḥ syādyavānikā

Translation

اعلم أنّ «مورفا» حلوة المذاق؛ و«تيجني» هي المتسلّقة المُرّة. و«مها نيمبا» و«برِهَن نيمبا» نوعان من النِّيم؛ و«ديبياكا» يُسمّى أيضًا «يافانيكا».

Word by Word

• mūrvā: Mūrvā (a plant)
• mūrvā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• madhurasā: Madhurasā (sweet-juiced; a plant name)
• madhurasā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (madhurasya rasaḥ/rasā)

• jñeyā: is to be known as
• jñeyā: Karma (Predicate/कर्म-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) → jñeya (कृदन्त, यत्)
• Form: कर्तव्यता-बोधक कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• tejanī: Tejanī (a plant name)
• tejanī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tiktavallikā: Tiktavallikā (bitter creeper; a plant)
• tiktavallikā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tikta (प्रातिपदिक) + vallikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (tiktaḥ vallikā)

• mahānimbaḥ: Mahānimba (great neem)
• mahānimbaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nimba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• bṛhannimbaḥ: Bṛhannimba (large neem)
• bṛhannimbaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + nimba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• dīpyakaḥ: Dīpyaka (a plant name)
• dīpyakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• syāt: would be/is (said to be)
• syāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• yavānikā: Yavānikā (a plant name)
• yavānikā: Karma (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yavānikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; syāt इत्यस्य विधेय-नाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rasa-jñāna (knowing taste/qualities) is a valid means to identify and apply substances appropriately.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-jñāna as supportive knowledge; discernment (viveka) in action.

Application: Use taste/organoleptic cues (sweet/bitter) and synonym knowledge (two neems; dīpyaka=yavānikā) when selecting ingredients.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.17-21 (continuing synonym and property list)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herbs like mūrvā and nimba in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions like a traditional glossary, preserving correct names, tastes, and synonyms of medicinal plants—useful for accurate ritual ingredients and classical Ayurvedic identification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to a technical section that catalogues substances (plants/spices) by names and synonyms, supporting correct practice in related rites or remedies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cross-reference when matching Sanskrit plant names to regional names: it warns that the same substance may appear under multiple synonyms (e.g., dīpyaka = yavānikā), reducing mistakes in ritual or herbal use.