Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

विद्यात्कर्षं तथा चापि सुवर्णं कवलग्रहम् / पलार्धं शुक्तिमिच्छन्ति तथाष्टौमाषकास्त्विति

Transliteration

vidyātkarṣaṃ tathā cāpi suvarṇaṃ kavalagraham / palārdhaṃ śuktimicchanti tathāṣṭaumāṣakāstviti

Translation

विद्यात् कर्षं तथा चैव सुवर्णसंज्ञितं बुधः। कवलग्रहं पलार्धं स्याद् इति, अष्टौ माषकाः स्मृताः॥

Word by Word

• विद्यात्: should know; should understand
• विद्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कर्षम्: a karṣa (weight-measure)
• कर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधकः (conjunction)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थकः (particle: also/even)

• सुवर्णम्: a suvarṇa (gold-weight unit)
• सुवर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• कवलग्रहम्: a mouthful-measure (kavala-graha)
• कवलग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवल + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kavala-sya grahaḥ)

• पलार्धम्: half a pala
• पलार्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (palasya ardham)

• शुक्तिम्: a śukti (measure)
• शुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• इच्छन्ति: they desire; they consider
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष्/√इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (संख्याशब्दः), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचनम्

• माषकाः: māṣakas (a weight unit)
• माषकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचनम्

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विरोध/विशेषार्थकः (particle: but/indeed)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचकः (quotative particle)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa (standard measures) as a basis for correct ritual and ethical transactions.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as preparatory discipline (niyama) supporting purity and order; right action depends on right knowledge of means.

Application: Use standardized conversions (karṣa/suvarṇa; kavalagraha = half-pala; eight māṣakas) when weighing items for offerings, dāna, or household trade to avoid under/over-giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.73-76 (continuation of māna-prakaraṇa: pala, kuḍava, prastha, āḍhaka, droṇa, tulā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of these measurements in the Garuda Purana?

This verse standardizes traditional weight/quantity units (karṣa, suvarṇa, pala, māṣa) so that ritual gifts and offerings connected with dharma and post-death rites are made in correct, accepted measures.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

Garuda Purana often prescribes dāna and śrāddha-related offerings with precise quantities; this verse clarifies equivalences among units so practitioners can calculate correct amounts for ritual observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha, pindadāna, or charity in a traditional framework, use standardized conversions (or a trusted priest/pañcāṅga guide) so offerings match intended scriptural proportions rather than arbitrary estimates.