Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

दन्ती कटङ्कटेरी च ज्ञेया दारुनिशेति च / हरिद्रा रजनी प्रोक्ता पीतिका रात्रिनामिका

Transliteration

dantī kaṭaṅkaṭerī ca jñeyā dāruniśeti ca / haridrā rajanī proktā pītikā rātrināmikā

Translation

Ketahuilah bahawa herba ini juga dikenali dengan nama Dantī, Kaṭaṅkaṭerī dan Dāru-niśā. Haridrā (kunyit) pula disebut Rajanī, serta juga dinamai Pītikā dan Rātri-nāmikā.

Word by Word

• दन्ती: Dantī (a plant name)
• दन्ती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्ती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (plant-name)

• कटङ्कटेरी: Kaṭaṅkaṭerī (a plant name)
• कटङ्कटेरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटङ्कटेरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

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

• ज्ञेया: to be known (as)
• ज्ञेया: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: भविष्यत्कर्तव्यतार्थक-विशेषण (gerundive/तव्यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञातव्या/known as’

• दारुनिशा: dāru-niśā (a name of turmeric)
• दारुनिशा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारु + निशा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दारोः निशा)

• इति: thus/so called
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

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

• हरिद्रा: haridrā (turmeric)
• हरिद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• रजनी: rajanī (night; also turmeric)
• रजनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• प्रोक्ता: is called/said
• प्रोक्ता: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘said/called’

• पीतिका: pītikā (the yellow one; a name)
• पीतिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीतिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• रात्रिनामिका: having the name ‘rātri’
• रात्रिनामिका: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रात्रि + नामिका (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रात्रेः नामिका) ‘named rात्रि’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instructive discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge (saṃjñā-jñāna) of substances is foundational for right action and effective remedy.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and viveka: accurate naming supports discernment and reduces avidyā in practical life.

Application: Use synonym-lists to verify the correct herb (here, haridrā/turmeric and related names) before preparation or prescription.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (dravya/auṣadhi-nāma-nirdeśa context)

Characters & Entities

• Haridrā (Turmeric)

FAQs

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

This verse functions like a nighaṇṭu (lexicon), preserving multiple traditional names so practitioners can correctly identify medicinal substances used in dharmic and health-related contexts.

Does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or Yama’s realm?

No—this specific verse is lexical/medicinal, naming herbs and turmeric synonyms; it does not describe afterlife geography, punishments, or śrāddha procedures.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these synonym sets to avoid confusion in Sanskrit sources and traditional prescriptions—e.g., recognizing that Haridrā is also referred to as Rajanī/Pītikā in classical terminology.