Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

अरूषक्रं पत्र शूकं क्षीरी राजादनं मतम् / महापत्रं दाडिमं च तमेव करकं वदेत्

Transliteration

arūṣakraṃ patra śūkaṃ kṣīrī rājādanaṃ matam / mahāpatraṃ dāḍimaṃ ca tameva karakaṃ vadet

Translation

‘അരൂഷക്ര’, ‘പത്രശൂക’, ക്ഷീരസ്രാവിയായ ‘രാജാദന’, ‘മഹാപത്ര’, ‘ദാഡിമ’—ഇവയെല്ലാം ഒരേ പേരായ ‘കരക’ എന്നായി നിർദ്ദേശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अरूषक्रम्: arūṣaka (plant name)
• अरूषक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पत्रम्: leaf
• पत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शूकम्: ear/spike (of grain); bristle
• शूकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• क्षीरी: milky; latex-bearing
• क्षीरी: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीरिन्/क्षीरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण ‘milky/latex-bearing’

• राजादनम्: rājādana (plant name)
• राजादनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मतम्: is considered
• मतम्: Karma (Predicate complement/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is considered/held to be’

• महापत्रम्: mahāpatra (great-leaf; name)
• महापत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महत् पत्रम्)

• दाडिमम्: dāḍima (pomegranate)
• दाडिमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाडिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘indeed/only’)

• करकम्: karaka (name)
• करकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वदेत्: should say/call
• वदेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Many forms/epithets can be treated under one functional category-name; classification is a practical epistemology.

Vedantic Theme: Unity-in-diversity at the level of convention; names serve function and context.

Application: When a recipe/rite calls for ‘Karaka’, verify which local plant is supplied under that name (Arūṣakra/Patraśūka/Kṣīrī Rājādana/Mahāpatra/Dāḍima) and standardize sourcing notes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.45 (Karaka as shared designation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘Karaka’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse clarifies that multiple botanical names are treated as one category—‘Karaka’—helping practitioners correctly identify acceptable ritual plant materials despite regional name-variants.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

In sections dealing with ritual procedure and prescribed materials, accurate identification of plants is essential; the verse standardizes terminology so the correct items can be used in rites connected with śrāddha and related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When sourcing ritual items, consult traditional synonym-lists like this one (and local commentarial traditions) to avoid confusion from regional plant names and ensure consistency in observance.