Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

कट्फलं सोमवृक्षः स्यादग्निगन्धा सुगन्धिका / शताङ्गं शतपुष्पा च मिंसिर्मधुरिकामता

Transliteration

kaṭphalaṃ somavṛkṣaḥ syādagnigandhā sugandhikā / śatāṅgaṃ śatapuṣpā ca miṃsirmadhurikāmatā

Translation

കഠ്ഫലം ‘സോമവൃക്ഷം’ എന്ന പേരിലും പ്രസിദ്ധം; ‘അഗ്നിഗന്ധാ’യെ ‘സുഗന്ധികാ’ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു. ‘ശതാംഗം’ ‘ശതപുഷ്പാ’ എന്നും; ‘മിംസിർ’ ‘മധുരികാ’ എന്നും കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• कट्फलम्: kaṭphala
• कट्फलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कट्फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सोमवृक्षः: (called) somavṛkṣa
• सोमवृक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सोमस्य वृक्षः)

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

• अग्निगन्धा: agnigandhā (a fragrant plant)
• अग्निगन्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अग्नेः गन्धः यस्याः)

• सुगन्धिका: sugandhikā (well-scented one)
• सुगन्धिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + गन्धिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु-गन्धिका = सुगन्धयुक्ता)

• शताङ्गम्: śatāṅga (hundred-limbed; name of a plant)
• शताङ्गम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (शतम् अङ्गानि यस्य)

• शतपुष्पा: śatapuṣpā (hundred-flowered; plant name)
• शतपुष्पा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (शतानि पुष्पाणि यस्याः)

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

• मिंसिः: miṃsi (plant name)
• मिंसिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिंसि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मधुरिका: madhurikā (plant name)
• मधुरिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुरिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मता: is considered/called
• मता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/क्तवतु-सम्भव), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘मन्ता/मता’ = मता (considered/called)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge includes knowing synonyms and classifications; clarity prevents error in practice.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and viveka at the practical level—discriminating names/forms while remembering their instrumental status.

Application: Maintain synonym-mapping for herbs (kaṭphala/soma-vṛkṣa etc.) to avoid confusion in procurement and formulation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (synonym lists for dravyas)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a lexical guide, clarifying alternate names of herbs so that ritual items and medicinal ingredients are correctly identified across regions and traditions.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices?

By giving accepted synonym-names, it helps practitioners avoid confusion when sourcing substances used in traditional observances, offerings, or remedial preparations mentioned in related sections.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When following traditional instructions, cross-check regional plant names with recognized Sanskrit synonyms (and, if needed, botanical identification) to ensure accuracy and safety.