Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

झषा नागबला ज्ञेया श्वदंष्ट्रा गोक्षुरो मतः / शतावरी वरा भीरु पीवरीन्दीवरी वरी

Transliteration

jhaṣā nāgabalā jñeyā śvadaṃṣṭrā gokṣuro mataḥ / śatāvarī varā bhīru pīvarīndīvarī varī

Translation

‘Jhaṣā’ ist als Nāgabalā zu verstehen; ‘Śvadaṃṣṭrā’ gilt als Gokṣura. Śatāvarī heißt auch Varā und Bhīru; und Pīvarī wird Indīvarī sowie Varī genannt.

Word by Word

• झषा: Jhaṣā (plant)
• झषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: झषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• नागबला: Nāgabalā (plant)
• नागबला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + बला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नाग इव बला/नागस्य बला) औषधिनाम

• ज्ञेया: is to be known (as)
• ज्ञेया: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: ‘to be known’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्वदंष्ट्रा: Śvadaṃṣṭrā ("dog-tooth" plant)
• श्वदंष्ट्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्वनः दंष्ट्रा)

• गोक्षुरः: Gokṣura (plant)
• गोक्षुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोक्षुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोः क्षुरः/गो-क्षुर) औषधिनाम

• मतः: is considered/known (as)
• मतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘considered/known’

• शतावरी: Śatāvarī (plant)
• शतावरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + आवरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शत-आवरी) औषधिनाम

• वरा: Varā (plant)
• वरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• भीरु: Bhīru (plant)
• भीरु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• पीवरी: Pīvarī (plant)
• पीवरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीवरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• इन्दीवरी: Indīvarī (plant)
• इन्दीवरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दीवरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• वरी: Varī (plant)
• वरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Disambiguation: one substance, many names; knowledge removes practical confusion.

Vedantic Theme: Anekatva of nāma vs. ekatva of vastu in empirical dealings (name-form vs. underlying referent).

Application: Treat Jhaṣā as Nāgabalā; Śvadaṃṣṭrā as Gokṣura; recognize Śatāvarī as Varā/Bhīru; Pīvarī as Indīvarī/Varī when sourcing ingredients.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (synonyms for medicinal plants)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herb synonyms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves standardized identifications of medicinal plants, helping practitioners match regional names (e.g., Jhaṣā) with accepted herb identities (e.g., Nāgabalā) for correct ritual and therapeutic usage.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond afterlife topics?

It shows the text’s Ācāra/Dharma scope includes practical knowledge—here, nighaṇṭu-style synonymy—supporting health, daily discipline, and accurate application of traditional remedies mentioned in dharmic contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cross-reference when reading Sanskrit or regional Ayurvedic sources: verify herb identity by synonyms (e.g., Śvadaṃṣṭrā = Gokṣura) before any devotional, dietary, or wellness practice.