Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

मुद्गपर्णो क्षुद्रसहा माषपर्णो महासहा / त्यजा परा च महा ज्ञेया दण्डयोन्यङ्कसंज्ञया / न्यग्रोधस्तु वटो ज्ञेयः अश्वत्थः कपिलो मतः

Transliteration

mudgaparṇo kṣudrasahā māṣaparṇo mahāsahā / tyajā parā ca mahā jñeyā daṇḍayonyaṅkasaṃjñayā / nyagrodhastu vaṭo jñeyaḥ aśvatthaḥ kapilo mataḥ

Translation

Mudgaparṇa dikenal sebagai Kṣudrasahā; Māṣaparṇa dikenal sebagai Mahāsahā. Tyajā hendaklah difahami sebagai Parā, dan Mahā ialah yang dinamai Daṇḍayonyaṅka. Nyagrodha hendaklah diketahui sebagai Vaṭa, dan Aśvattha dianggap sebagai Kapila.

Word by Word

मुद्गपर्णःMudga-leaved plant (a plant name)

क्षुद्रसहाKṣudrasahā (a plant name)

माषपर्णःMāṣa-leaved plant (a plant name)

महासहाMahāsahā (a plant name)

त्यजाleave/abandon

पराParā (a plant name)

चand

महाMahā (a plant name)

ज्ञेयाis to be known/called

दण्डयोनि-अङ्क-संज्ञयाby the name ‘Daṇḍayoni-aṅka’

न्यग्रोधःNyagrodha (banyan)

तुindeed/but

वटःVaṭa (banyan)

ज्ञेयःis to be known (as)

अश्वत्थःAśvattha (peepal)

कपिलःKapila (a name/variety)

मतःis considered/called

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right naming/identification (saṃjñā-bheda) as a form of practical knowledge; one entity known by multiple regional/technical names.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-jñāna (conventional knowledge) supporting dharma/ritual accuracy; nāma-rūpa distinction implied (names vary while referent remains).

Application: Use correct plant identities when following ritual, medicinal, or dharma prescriptions that specify these names; avoid substitution errors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (context: nāma-paryāya/auṣadhi-vana-nighaṇṭu style listings)

Characters & Entities

Vishnu

Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred tree names and synonyms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions like a glossary: it standardizes alternate names of plants/trees used in Purāṇic and ritual contexts so practitioners correctly identify what is being referred to in dharma and rites.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on rituals or dharma?

By clarifying synonyms (e.g., Nyagrodha = Vaṭa), it prevents confusion when the text prescribes offerings, worship materials, or sacred associations connected with particular trees.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When reading Purāṇic instructions or planning a ritual, cross-check plant/tree synonyms so the correct species or traditional equivalent is used, especially for items like banyan (vaṭa/nyagrodha) and aśvattha.