Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

यष्टी यष्ट्याह्वयं प्रोक्तं मदुकं मधुयष्टिका / धातकी ताम्रपर्णो स्यात्समङ्गा कुञ्जरा मता

Transliteration

yaṣṭī yaṣṭyāhvayaṃ proktaṃ madukaṃ madhuyaṣṭikā / dhātakī tāmraparṇo syātsamaṅgā kuñjarā matā

Translation

‘യഷ്ടീ’ എന്ന ഔഷധദ്രവ്യം ‘യഷ്ട്യാഹ്വയം’ എന്നും പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു; അതേ ‘മദുകം’ ‘മധുയഷ്ടികാ’ എന്നും പ്രസിദ്ധം. ‘ധാതകീ’യെ ‘താമ്രപർണാ’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു; ‘സമംഗാ’യെ ‘കുഞ്ജരാ’ എന്നു കണക്കാക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• यष्टी: Yaṣṭī (a plant name)
• यष्टी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• यष्टि-आह्वयम्: the name/called ‘Yaṣṭi’
• यष्टि-आह्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative) ‘यष्टेः आह्वयम्’

• प्रोक्तम्: is said/declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ ‘said/declared’

• मदुकम्: Maduka (a plant name)
• मदुकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मधु-यष्टिका: Madhuyaṣṭikā (licorice; ‘honey-stick’)
• मधु-यष्टिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + यष्टिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• धातकी: Dhātakī (a plant name)
• धातकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ताम्र-पर्णः: Tāmraparṇa (‘copper-leaf’; a plant name)
• ताम्र-पर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (descriptive) ‘ताम्रं पर्णं यस्य’

• स्यात्: may be/is (said to be)
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• समङ्गा: Samaṅgā (a plant name)
• समङ्गा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुञ्जरा: Kuñjarā (a plant name)
• कुञ्जरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मता: is considered/known (as)
• मता: Kriya (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘considered/known’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda in a catalog-like listing of names)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge (saṃjñā-jñāna) through accurate synonymy prevents error in practice.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and viveka applied to worldly means (upāya) for sustaining dharma and health.

Application: When sourcing herbs, verify regional/alternate names (yaṣṭī/madhuyaṣṭikā etc.) to ensure correct ingredient selection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (dravya-nāma/synonym lists continuing in adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse functions like a nighaṇṭu (synonym register), helping practitioners correctly identify the same medicinal/ritual ingredient under different regional or textual names.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice (śrāddha or purification)?

Accurate identification of substances is crucial in ritual and remedial contexts; by giving equivalent names, the text reduces confusion when sourcing herbs mentioned in prescriptions or observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When reading traditional remedies or ritual manuals, cross-check alternate Sanskrit names (as given here) before purchasing or using herbs, to avoid substituting the wrong plant.