Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

नीलश्च सिन्धुवारश्च निर्गुण्डीति सुगन्धिका / ज्ञेया सुगन्धिपर्णोति वासन्ती कुलजेति च

Transliteration

nīlaśca sindhuvāraśca nirguṇḍīti sugandhikā / jñeyā sugandhiparṇoti vāsantī kulajeti ca

Translation

‘നീല’, ‘സിന്ധുവാര’, ‘നിർഗുണ്ഡീ’—‘സുഗന്ധികാ’ എന്നും വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്—ഇവയെല്ലാം ഒരേ സുഗന്ധസസ്യത്തിന്റെ നാമങ്ങളാണ്. അതിനെ ‘സുഗന്ധിപർണോതീ’, ‘വാസന്തീ’, ‘കുലജാ’ എന്നും പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नीलः: Nīla (a plant name)
• नीलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• सिन्धुवारः: Sindhuvāra (a plant name)
• सिन्धुवारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धुवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

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

• इति: thus; called
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निदर्शन-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• सुगन्धिका: Sugandhikā (a fragrant plant)
• सुगन्धिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्धिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञेया: is to be known (as)
• ज्ञेया: Karma (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृत्) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/विधेय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञेय’ = should be known/called

• सुगन्धिपर्णा: Sugandhiparṇā (fragrant-leaved plant)
• सुगन्धिपर्णा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘सुगन्धि पर्णं यस्याः/सुगन्धि-पर्णा’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus; called
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निदर्शन-अव्यय (quotative particle)

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

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

• इति: thus; called
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निदर्शन-अव्यय (quotative particle)

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge (saṃjñā-jñāna) through synonymy—knowing one substance by many names to avoid error.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and vyavahāra: accurate conventional knowledge supports dharma and sādhanā.

Application: When sourcing herbs/flowers for worship or remedies, verify identity across regional names to prevent substitution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (nighaṇṭu-style synonym lists continuing in adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing multiple names of a single herb in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves synonymy: it helps practitioners and readers correctly identify the same plant across regions and traditions where different Sanskrit names are used.

How does this verse fit the Garuda Purana’s practical teachings?

By clarifying plant nomenclature, it supports accurate use of ritual or medicinal ingredients, reducing confusion when prescriptions or ritual directions refer to alternate names.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When consulting traditional texts, cross-check herb names (Nīla/Sindhuvāra/Nirguṇḍī, etc.) as synonyms before sourcing or using any plant for rituals or home remedies.