Shloka 23
Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla
ज्ञेयास्तूग्राश्न सौम्याश्न॒ तेजस्विन्यश्न॒ ता: पृथक् । ओषघध्यो बहुवीर्या हि बहुरूपास्तथैव च,उग्रा, सौम्या, तेजस्विनी, बहुवीर्या और बहुरूपा--अनेक प्रकारकी ओषधियाँ होती हैं। उन सबको जानना चाहिये
jñeyāstūgrāś ca saumyāś ca tejasvinyas tathā pṛthak | oṣadhyo bahuvīryā hi bahurūpās tathaiva ca ||
Śukra said: “One should clearly recognize the different kinds of medicinal herbs—those that are fierce in effect, those that are gentle, and those that are radiant in potency. Indeed, herbs are of many strengths and of many forms. Therefore, they must be properly understood and distinguished.”
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches discernment: remedies (and by extension, actions) differ in intensity, gentleness, and potency, so one must know their nature and apply them appropriately rather than treating all as the same.
Śukra is instructing about the classification of medicinal herbs, emphasizing that they are diverse in form and power and therefore must be carefully identified and understood.