Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

पुनर्नवाथ पर्षाभूः कठिल्या कारुणा तथा / एरण्डश्चोरुवूकः स्यादामर्दो वर्धमानकः

Transliteration

punarnavātha parṣābhūḥ kaṭhilyā kāruṇā tathā / eraṇḍaścoruvūkaḥ syādāmardo vardhamānakaḥ

Translation

पुनर्नवा ‘पर्षाभूः’ ‘कठिल्या’ ‘कारुणा’ इति च कथ्यते। एरण्डोऽपि ‘चोरुवूक’ इति, आमर्दो ‘वर्धमानक’ इति च स्मृतः॥

Word by Word

• पुनर्नवा: Punarnavā (plant)
• पुनर्नवा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुनर् + नवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पुनः नवा इव)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/next)

• पर्षाभूः: Parṣābhūḥ (plant)
• पर्षाभूः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्षा + भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पर्षायां भूः/पर्षा-भूः) औषधिनाम

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

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (likewise/also)

• एरण्डः: Eraṇḍa (castor)
• एरण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एरण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (castor plant)

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

• उरुवूकः: Uruvūka (plant)
• उरुवूकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरुवूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• स्यात्: is/should be (called)
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘would be/is said to be’

• आमर्दः: Āmarda (plant)
• आमर्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमर्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

• वर्धमानकः: Vardhamānaka (plant)
• वर्धमानकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्धमानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (औषधिनाम)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a catalog of medicinal names)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct equivalence (tādātmya) of names prevents error in action (pravṛtti).

Vedantic Theme: Right knowledge in vyavahāra supports right action; ignorance of names leads to doṣa in practice.

Application: When a recipe calls for Punarnavā, recognize Parṣābhū/Kaṭhilyā/Kāruṇā as the same; identify Eraṇḍa as Coruvūka; Āmarda as Vardhamānaka.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.2–6 (continuous synonym lists for herbs)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse functions like a nighaṇṭu (synonym glossary), helping readers correctly identify medicinal dravyas by their alternate regional or textual names.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Alongside afterlife and dharma sections, the Garuda Purana also preserves practical knowledge; here it transmits Ayurvedic identification of herbs to avoid confusion in usage and transmission.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When consulting classical Ayurveda or traditional practitioners, cross-checking synonyms (e.g., Punarnavā, Eraṇḍa) helps ensure the correct herb is sourced and used safely.