Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

विज्ञेया कटुका तिक्ता तथा कटुकरोहिणी / तगरं स्यान्नतं वक्रं चोचं त्वचवराङ्गकम्

Transliteration

vijñeyā kaṭukā tiktā tathā kaṭukarohiṇī / tagaraṃ syānnataṃ vakraṃ cocaṃ tvacavarāṅgakam

Translation

Erkenne diese Heilsubstanzen: «kaṭukā», «tiktā» und «kaṭukarohiṇī»; ferner «tagara» und weitere wie «nata», «vakra», «coca», «tvacā» (Zimtrinde) und «varāṅgaka».

Word by Word

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

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

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

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• kaṭuka-rohiṇī: Kaṭukarohiṇī (a plant name)
• kaṭuka-rohiṇī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṭuka (प्रातिपदिक) + rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kaṭukasya rohiṇī)

• tagaram: Tagara (valerian; a plant)
• tagaram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• natam: bent/curved
• natam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (tagaram इत्यस्य)

• vakram: crooked
• vakram: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• cocam: Coca (a plant name)
• cocam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: coca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tvac-vara-aṅgakam: Tvacavarāṅgaka (a plant name)
• tvac-vara-aṅgakam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvac (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (त्वचः वरम् अङ्गकम्/त्वचवरम् अङ्गकम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within an enumerative medicinal context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic enumeration (saṅgraha) of dravyas is foundational knowledge for right practice.

Vedantic Theme: Order and clarity in vyavahāra as a support to sattva and disciplined living.

Application: Recognize and source these dravyas (kaṭukā, tiktā, kaṭukarohiṇī, tagara, nata, vakra, coca, tvacā, varāṅgaka) accurately when following traditional formulations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.17-21 (continuation of dravya lists)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herbs like Kaṭukā and Tagara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a nighaṇṭu-style enumeration—preserving recognized names of therapeutic/aromatic substances used in traditional healing and supportive ritual contexts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; rather, it appears in a practical instructional section where Vishnu enumerates substances—showing the Purana’s inclusion of applied knowledge alongside afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a textual reference for identifying classical Sanskrit drug-names (especially aromatic/bitter herbs) and cross-check with Ayurvedic nighaṇṭus and qualified practitioners before any medicinal use.