Shloka 26

मानवसर्गः, चातुर्वर्ण्य-गुणकर्म, यज्ञ-प्रतिपादनम्, आश्रमधर्म-फल, नरकवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

ग्राम्यारण्याः स्मृता ह्य् एता ओषध्यस् तु चतुर्दश यज्ञनिष्पत्तये यज्ञस् तथासां हेतुर् उत्तमः

Transliteration

grāmyāraṇyāḥ smṛtā hy etā oṣadhyas tu caturdaśa yajñaniṣpattaye yajñas tathāsāṃ hetur uttamaḥ

Translation

These herbs are remembered as twofold—of the village and of the forest—fourteen in all. They bring yajña to its full accomplishment; and yajña, in turn, is their highest and noblest cause (their supreme purpose).

Word by Word

• ग्राम्य-अरण्याः: domestic and forest (varieties)
• ग्राम्य-अरण्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; द्वन्द्व-समासः (ग्राम्याश्च अरण्याश्च)

• स्मृताः: are remembered/are considered
• स्मृताः: Karma (Predicate complement/कर्म-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (ओषध्यः इत्यस्य विधेयः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphatic particle)

• एताः: these
• एताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (सर्वनाम)

• ओषध्यः: plants/herbs
• ओषध्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (contrast/emphasis)

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचकः, प्रथमा-बहुवचनार्थे (एताः/ओषध्यः इत्यस्य संख्या); द्विगु-समासः (चतुर् + दश)

• यज्ञ-निष्पत्तये: for the accomplishment of sacrifice
• यज्ञ-निष्पत्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (4th/Dative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: यज्ञस्य निष्पत्तिः)

• यज्ञः: sacrifice
• यज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (connector: ‘and also’)

• आसाम्: of these
• आसाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), बहुवचनम् (सर्वनाम)

• हेतुः: cause
• हेतुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• उत्तमः: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (हेतुः इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How created herbs are classified and how they function within yajña and cosmic order

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Created herbs and grains attain their highest purpose within the ordained cosmic order by serving yajña, which sustains the world’s dharmic functioning under the Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat daily work and consumption as consecrated—offer first (gratitude/charity/ritual), avoid waste, and align livelihood with dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: The world’s material plurality (oṣadhi, anna) has real purpose as the Lord’s body and instrument, ordered toward His worship and cosmic maintenance.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Yajna (sacrifice)
• Oshadhis (herbs)

FAQs

What is the significance of oṣadhis (herbs) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames herbs as purposeful elements of creation: they are enumerated and classified, and their primary role is to support yajña, through which cosmic order and dharma are maintained.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the link between nature and yajña?

Parāśara presents natural substances (here, herbs) as structured parts of the cosmos whose functions culminate in ritual fruition—yajña completes their purpose within the ordained order.

What is the theological importance of yajña in this context?

Yajña is treated as a supreme organizing principle that aligns the world with higher sovereignty; in Vaishnava Purāṇic theology, such order ultimately rests upon Vishnu as the sustainer of dharma.