Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 15

Rasa-Dravya Varga: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter, Astringent; Snehana and Svedana Guidelines

Devanagari script

गुडूची चद्रवन्ती च त्रिवृन्मण्डूकपर्ण्यपि / कारवेल्लकवार्ताकुकरवीरकवासकाः

Transliteration

guḍūcī cadravantī ca trivṛnmaṇḍūkaparṇyapi / kāravellakavārtākukaravīrakavāsakāḥ

Translation

गुडूची, चन्द्रवन्ती, त्रिवृत् और मण्डूकपर्णी; तथा करेला, वर्ताकु (बैंगन), करवीर और वासक—ये सब औषधि-द्रव्य गिनाए गए हैं।

Word by Word

• गुडूची: Guḍūcī (Tinospora cordifolia)
• गुडूची: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुडूची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• द्रवन्ती: Dravantī (a medicinal plant)
• द्रवन्ती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रवन्ती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• त्रिवृत्: Trivṛt (Operculina turpethum)
• त्रिवृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिवृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मण्डूकपर्णी: Maṇḍūkaparṇī (Centella asiatica)
• मण्डूकपर्णी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डूक + पर्णी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मण्डूकस्य पर्णी इव)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• कारवेल्लक: kāravella (bitter gourd)
• कारवेल्लक: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारवेल्लक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समाहार-गणना)

• वार्ताक: vārṭāka (eggplant)
• वार्ताक: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ताक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगभेद), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समाहार-गणना)

• करवीरक: karavīraka (oleander)
• करवीरक: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करवीरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समाहार-गणना)

• वासकाः: vāsaka plants (Adhatoda/Justicia)
• वासकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Preservation of the body as an instrument for dharma through knowledge of medicinal plants.

Vedantic Theme: Śarīra as sādhanā—care of the embodied condition supports pursuit of puruṣārthas.

Application: Identify and use listed herbs/vegetables appropriately in diet and remedies under vaidya guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173 (Ayurveda/auṣadha-nirdeśa section; surrounding verses listing dravyas and guṇas)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herbs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse contributes to a traditional materia medica-style enumeration, linking scriptural authority with practical healing knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This verse does not address the soul’s journey; it is part of an herbal/therapeutic listing within the text’s broader teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a scriptural index to identify classical herbs (e.g., guduchi, vasa) and consult qualified Ayurvedic guidance for safe application.