Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठन्तु सोदकं तत्स्यात्काञ्जिकन्तु सुवीरकम् / सीता सितोपला चैव मत्स्यण्डीशर्करा स्मृता

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhantu sodakaṃ tatsyātkāñjikantu suvīrakam / sītā sitopalā caiva matsyaṇḍīśarkarā smṛtā

Translation

‘ज्येष्ठ’ म्हणजे साधे पाणी; ‘काञ्जिक’ यास ‘सुवीरक’ असेही म्हणतात. ‘सीता’ ही पांढरी सितोपला (मिश्री) आणि ‘मत्स्यण्डी’ ही दाणेदार साखर मानली आहे.

Word by Word

• ज्येष्ठम्: the term ‘jyeṣṭha’ (a name)
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• स-उदकम्: with water; watery
• स-उदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सहितम् उदकेन)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• काञ्जिकम्: sour gruel (kāñjika)
• काञ्जिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्जिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• सुवीरकम्: suvīraka (a preparation/name)
• सुवीरकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + वीरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सु-वीरक)

• सीता: ‘sītā’ (a name/term)
• सीता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सित-उपला: white sugar-candy/rock-sugar
• सित-उपला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक) + उपला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (श्वेता उपला)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• मत्स्यण्डी-शर्करा: matsyaṇḍī sugar (a kind of sugar)
• मत्स्यण्डी-शर्करा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्यण्डी (प्रातिपदिक) + शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (मत्स्यण्डी-रूपा शर्करा)

• स्मृता: is called/known as
• स्मृता: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is called’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct naming and identification of substances to avoid error in ritual, diet, and medicine.

Vedantic Theme: Pramana (right knowledge) as a support for right action (pravritti) in embodied life.

Application: Use standardized synonyms when preparing offerings, medicines, or household provisions so ingredients are not confused.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.68; Garuda Purana 1.204.69; Garuda Purana 1.204.70; Garuda Purana 1.204.71

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of defining items like water, kāñjika, and sugar in the Garuda Purana?

This verse standardizes traditional names and synonyms so that offerings and ritual ingredients are correctly understood and used, avoiding confusion during dhārmic rites.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals such as śrāddha or piṇḍa-dāna?

Śrāddha-related procedures often specify items by technical or regional names; the verse clarifies equivalences (e.g., kāñjika = suvīraka) to ensure the intended offering is actually performed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When following traditional rites, verify the meaning of ritual terms and synonyms (especially food/drink items) so the practice remains accurate, consistent, and respectful to the intended dharma.