Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

कालीयकं पीतकाष्ठं कतकाख्यः पुनः स्मृतः / गायत्रीखदिरो ज्ञेयस्तद्भेदः कन्दरो मतः

Transliteration

kālīyakaṃ pītakāṣṭhaṃ katakākhyaḥ punaḥ smṛtaḥ / gāyatrīkhadiro jñeyastadbhedaḥ kandaro mataḥ

Translation

Kālīyaka juga diingati sebagai Pītakāṣṭha, dan sekali lagi sebagai Kataka. Khadira yang dikenali sebagai Gāyatrī hendaklah difahami demikian; variasinya dianggap sebagai Kandara.

Word by Word

• कालीयकम्: kālīyaka (a fragrant substance/wood)
• कालीयकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• पीतकाष्ठम्: yellow wood
• पीतकाष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘पीतं काष्ठम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कतकाख्यः: called ‘kataka’
• कतकाख्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कतक (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘कतक-आख्य’ = named kataka), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुनः: again; also
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb)

• स्मृतः: is mentioned
• स्मृतः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत्) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘is mentioned/remembered’

• गायत्रीखदिरः: Gāyatrī-khadira (a variety of khadira)
• गायत्रीखदिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + खदिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्धार्थ: ‘गायत्री-खदिर’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृत्) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• तद्भेदः: its variety/difference
• तद्भेदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘तस्य भेदः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कन्दरः: Kandara (name of the variety)
• कन्दरः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) + त (कृत्) → मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘considered/held’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discriminative knowledge (viveka) between synonym and variety—same-name equivalence vs. subtype differentiation.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa discernment in empirical domain; clarity of designation prevents confusion in action (karma).

Application: When a text prescribes kālīyaka/khadira, confirm whether it means the same wood or a specific variety (kandara) before procurement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/woodland (implied by khadira/wood names)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.37-41 (continuing synonym/variety catalog)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of naming sacred woods in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves ritual-identification synonyms, helping practitioners correctly recognize the same wood under different regional or textual names used in offerings and observances.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

By mapping synonyms and subtypes (kālīyaka/pītakāṣṭha/kataka; gāyatrī-khadira and its variant kandara), it supports accurate selection of prescribed materials in Ācāra (conduct/ritual) contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When sourcing ritual items, cross-check Sanskrit synonyms and botanical/market names to avoid substitutions—especially for woods like khadira—so the intended material is used with clarity and integrity.