Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

स्थिरा विदारिगन्धा च शालपण्यशुमत्यपि / लाङ्गली कलसी चैव क्रोष्टुपुच्छा गुहा मता

Transliteration

sthirā vidārigandhā ca śālapaṇyaśumatyapi / lāṅgalī kalasī caiva kroṣṭupucchā guhā matā

Translation

Sthirā, Vidārigandhā dan Śālapaṇī—bersama Śumatī; demikian juga Lāṅgalī dan Kalasī; serta Kroṣṭupucchā—semuanya dianggap sebagai (herba) yang dikenali sebagai Guhā.

Word by Word

• स्थिरा: Sthirā (a medicinal plant)
• स्थिरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• विदारिगन्धा: Vidārigandhā (plant with vidāri-like fragrance)
• विदारिगन्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदारि + गन्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विदार्याः गन्धा)

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

• शालपण्यशुमती: Śālaparṇī and Aṃśumatī (plants)
• शालपण्यशुमती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालपर्णी + अंशुमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (शालपर्णी च अंशुमती च) समाहार/एकवचन-प्रयोगः (औषधिसूची)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (also/even)

• लाङ्गली: Lāṅgalī (plant)
• लाङ्गली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• कलसी: Kalasī (plant)
• कलसी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• क्रोष्टुपुच्छा: Kroṣṭupucchā ("jackal-tail" plant)
• क्रोष्टुपुच्छा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोष्टु + पुच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्रोष्टोः पुच्छा)

• गुहा: Guhā (plant)
• गुहा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• मता: is considered/known (as)
• मता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘मत’ = ‘considered/known’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right naming and right knowledge (saṃjñā-jñāna) as a prerequisite for correct practice.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and vyavahāra: accurate conventional knowledge supports dharma and wellbeing in the empirical world.

Application: Use these synonyms to correctly identify the herb ‘Guhā’ in prescriptions and avoid substitution errors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (herb-synonym section continuing across 1.204.2–6)

FAQs

What is the importance of listing herbs like Guhā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves traditional synonym-lists used to correctly identify medicinal/ritual plants, preventing confusion in preparation, healing, and purity-related observances.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings beyond afterlife topics?

It shows the text’s broader scope: alongside dharma and post-death teachings, it also transmits practical knowledge—here, the accurate naming and identification of medicinal substances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use such synonym-mapping as a caution: verify botanical identity (through reliable Ayurveda/Nighaṇṭu references and experts) before using herbs in remedies or rituals.