Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

वृक्षादनी छिन्नरुहा नीलवल्ली रसामृता / वसुकोटश्च विज्ञेयो वाशिरः काम्पिल्लो मतः

Transliteration

vṛkṣādanī chinnaruhā nīlavallī rasāmṛtā / vasukoṭaśca vijñeyo vāśiraḥ kāmpillo mataḥ

Translation

परम्परा में स्वीकृत पर्याय नाम ये हैं—वृक्षादनी, छिन्नरुहा, नीलवल्ली और रसामृता। इसे वसुकोट भी समझना चाहिए, तथा वाशिर और काम्पिल्ल भी माना गया है।

Word by Word

• वृक्षादनी: vṛkṣādanī (tree-eater; a plant name)
• वृक्षादनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष + अदनी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृक्षस्य अदनी)

• छिन्नरुहा: chinnaruhā (a plant name)
• छिन्नरुहा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिन्न + रुहा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (छिन्ना रुहा)

• नीलवल्ली: nīlavallī (blue creeper; a plant name)
• नीलवल्ली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + वल्ली (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नीला वल्ली)

• रसामृता: rasāmṛtā (nectar-like juice; a plant name)
• रसामृता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसा + अमृता (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रसा अमृता)

• वसुकोटः: vasukoṭa (a plant name)
• वसुकोटः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु + कोट (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वसूनां कोटः/वसु-कोटः)

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

• विज्ञेयः: to be recognized (as)
• विज्ञेयः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• वाशिरः: vāśira (a plant name)
• वाशिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाशिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• काम्पिल्लः: kāmpilla (a plant name)
• काम्पिल्लः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्पिल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• मतः: is considered (to be)
• मतः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (कृदन्त; √मन् धातु, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘considered/held to be’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, in the Ācāra Kāṇḍa’s enumerative teaching style)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra preserves multiple valid designations; knowing them prevents confusion across regions and teachers.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa in applied domains: words as reliable pointers when grounded in tradition.

Application: When encountering different local names (vṛkṣādanī, chinnaruhā, nīlavallī, rasāmṛtā, etc.), map them to the same intended dravya before use.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (series of paryāya-nāmas for auṣadhis)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This verse preserves multiple traditional names for the same medicinal substance, helping practitioners and readers identify an herb across regions, dialects, and lineages of usage.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on dharma or ritual?

Although not a death-ritual verse, it reflects the Ācāra Kāṇḍa’s practical instruction—cataloging substances used in traditional life, including remedies and supportive materials for disciplined living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the synonym set to cross-reference Ayurvedic glossaries and regional names before assuming an identification; it reduces errors when matching Sanskrit plant names to modern botanical or pharmacy sources.