Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

शतावरी विदारी च बालकोशीरचन्दनम् / दूर्वा वटः पिप्पली च बदरी सल्लकी तथा

Transliteration

śatāvarī vidārī ca bālakośīracandanam / dūrvā vaṭaḥ pippalī ca badarī sallakī tathā

Translation

ശതാവരി, വിദാരി; ബാലകം, ഉശീരം, ചന്ദനം; ദൂർവ, വടം, പിപ്പലി, ബദരി, സല്ലകീ—ഇവയും ഇവിടെ പരാമർശിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• शतावरी: śatāvarī
• शतावरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतावरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विदारी: vidārī (Pueraria tuberosa)
• विदारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• बाल: bala (a plant; lit. strength)
• बाल: Qualifier
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासपूर्वपद)

• उशीर: uśīra (vetiver)
• उशीर: Qualifier
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (समासपूर्वपद)

• चन्दनम्: (a group of) bala, uśīra, and sandalwood
• चन्दनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (बाल-उशीर-चन्दनम् = the set of bala, uśīra, sandalwood)

• दूर्वा: dūrvā grass
• दूर्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वटः: banyan tree
• वटः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पिप्पली: long pepper
• पिप्पली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिप्पली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• बदरी: jujube (badarī)
• बदरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बदरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सल्लकी: sallakī
• सल्लकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सल्लकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थे

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra as a repository of practical welfare—remembering and transmitting correct dravya lists.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of the world) through knowledge and care.

Application: Correct identification and preparation of the listed herbs (śatāvarī, vidārī, bālaka, uśīra, candana, dūrvā, vaṭa, pippalī, badarī, sallakī) for indicated formulations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.173 (herb group continuations)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

Why does the Garuda Purana mention herbs like śatāvarī and candana?

The text preserves traditional knowledge by cataloging substances used in formulations; this verse continues an ingredient list relevant to classical healing contexts.

How does this verse connect to the broader Garuda Purana message?

Alongside teachings on dharma and the afterlife, it includes practical sections; here the emphasis is on naming medicinal ingredients rather than metaphysics.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It serves as a glossary-style reference for Sanskrit herb names; use it for study, and consult Ayurveda experts for any real-world formulation decisions.