Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

एला च बहुला प्रोक्ता सूक्ष्मैला च तथा त्रुटिः / पद्मा भार्ङ्गो तथा काञ्जी ज्ञेया ब्राह्मणयष्टिका

Transliteration

elā ca bahulā proktā sūkṣmailā ca tathā truṭiḥ / padmā bhārṅgo tathā kāñjī jñeyā brāhmaṇayaṣṭikā

Translation

Buah pelaga dikatakan daripada jenis “bahulā”; ada juga pelaga halus (kecil), dan demikian pula “truṭi”. “Padmā”, “bhārṅga” dan “kāñjī” juga hendaklah difahami—bersama herba yang dikenali sebagai “brāhmaṇayaṣṭikā”.

Word by Word

• elā: cardamom (Ela)
• elā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: elā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

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

• proktā: is said/called
• proktā: Karma (Predicate/कर्म-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• sūkṣma-elā: small cardamom
• sūkṣma-elā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक) + elā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

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

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• truṭiḥ: Truṭi (a plant name)
• truṭiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: truṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• padmā: Padmā (a plant name)
• padmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhārṅgaḥ: Bhārṅga (a plant name)
• bhārṅgaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• kāñjī: Kāñjī (sour gruel/fermented rice water; also plant name)
• kāñjī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāñjī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jñeyā: is to be known/should be known as
• jñeyā: Karma (Predicate/कर्म-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) → jñeya (कृदन्त, यत्)
• Form: विधिलिङ्गार्थक/कर्तव्यता-बोधक कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• brāhmaṇa-yaṣṭikā: Brāhmaṇa-yaṣṭikā (a plant name)
• brāhmaṇa-yaṣṭikā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + yaṣṭikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (brāhmaṇasya yaṣṭikā)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge (yathā-nāma-jñāna) of substances prevents error in practice.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and viveka applied to worldly means (upāya) in service of dharma.

Application: Use correct synonyms/varieties when procuring herbs/spices to avoid substitution and faulty remedies/offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (materia medica / synonym lists continuing in adjacent verses)

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herbs like elā and padmā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a technical catalog of recognized substances (dravya) used for ritual preparations and traditional medicinal/auspicious applications, ensuring correct identification and usage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework by specifying correct materials used in dharmic rites that are traditionally performed for wellbeing and ritual purity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use accurate identification of traditional ingredients when performing purāṇic/vaidika-style preparations or studying ritual manuals; avoid substitutions that change the intended substance in a rite or formulation.