Shloka 83

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

Devanagari script

विद्यादारग्वधं राजवृक्षं रैवतसंज्ञकम् / दन्ती काकेन्दुतिक्ता स्यात्कण्टकी च विकङ्कतः

Transliteration

vidyādāragvadhaṃ rājavṛkṣaṃ raivatasaṃjñakam / dantī kākendutiktā syātkaṇṭakī ca vikaṅkataḥ

Translation

दारुग्वधं राजवृक्षं रैवतसंज्ञकं च विद्यात्। दन्ती तु काकेन्दुतिक्ता इति स्यात्, कण्टकी च विकङ्कतः इति प्रसिद्धः॥

Word by Word

• vidyāt: one should know
• vidyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• āragvadham: Āragvadha (Cassia fistula)
• āragvadham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āragvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• rājavṛkṣam: Rājavṛkṣa (royal tree; a name)
• rājavṛkṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja-vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक; राजा + वृक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः वृक्षः)

• raivatasaṃjñakam: called ‘Raivata’
• raivatasaṃjñakam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raivata-saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक; रैवत + संज्ञक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रैवत-नामक)

• dantī: Dantī (a plant name)
• dantī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dantinī/dantī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kākendutiktā: Kākendutiktā (a name)
• kākendutiktā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāka-indu-tiktā (प्रातिपदिक; काक + इन्दु + तिक्ता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (काक-इन्दु-नाम्नी तिक्ता)

• syāt: may be / is (to be understood as)
• syāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kaṇṭakī: Kaṇṭakī (thorny one; a name)
• kaṇṭakī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• vikaṅkataḥ: Vikaṅkata (a name)
• vikaṅkataḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikaṅkata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct speech and correct identification (nāma-jñāna) are prerequisites for right action (cikitsā).

Vedantic Theme: Satya (truthfulness/accuracy) in śabda and vyavahāra; śāstra-guided conduct for welfare.

Application: When encountering variant local names (dāru-gvadha/rāja-vṛkṣa/raivata etc.), reconcile them to the same plant before prescribing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204: synonym lists for auṣadhi

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse preserves alternate names used in different regions and traditions, helping practitioners correctly identify herbs for ritual, household, and therapeutic applications.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond afterlife topics?

It shows the text’s broader scope: alongside dharma and post-death teachings, it also transmits practical knowledge such as traditional materia medica and correct terminology.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When consulting classical remedies or ritual manuals, cross-checking synonyms (e.g., dāru-gvadha = rāja-vṛkṣa) reduces misidentification and supports safer, more accurate traditional practice.