Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

पाषाणभेदको ऽरिष्टो ह्यस्मभित्कुट्टभेदकः / घण्टाकः शुष्कको ज्ञेयो वचो ऽथ सूचको मतः

Transliteration

pāṣāṇabhedako 'riṣṭo hyasmabhitkuṭṭabhedakaḥ / ghaṇṭākaḥ śuṣkako jñeyo vaco 'tha sūcako mataḥ

Translation

‘அரிஷ்ட’ என்பது பாறை உடைப்பவன் (பாஷாணபேதகன்) என அறியப்படுகிறது; அதுபோல் ‘அஸ்மபித்–குட்டபேதக’ கற்களைப் பிளந்து நொறுக்குவது. ‘கண்டாக’ மணி போன்றது; ‘சுஷ்கக’ உலர்ந்தது; ‘வசா’ ‘சூசக’ எனக் கருதப்படுகிறது.

Word by Word

• पाषाणभेदकः: pāṣāṇabhedaka (stone-breaker; a plant name)
• पाषाणभेदकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषाण + भेदक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाषाणस्य भेदकः)

• अरिष्टः: ariṣṭa (a plant name)
• अरिष्टः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अस्मभित्कुट्टभेदकः: asmabhit-kuṭṭabhedaka (a plant name)
• अस्मभित्कुट्टभेदकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मभित् + कुट्ट + भेदक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अश्मानं भिनत्ति इति अस्मभित्; कुट्टस्य भेदकः)

• घण्टाकः: ghaṇṭāka (a plant name)
• घण्टाकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• शुष्ककः: śuṣkaka (a plant name)
• शुष्ककः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्कक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• ज्ञेयः: to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• वचः: vacaḥ (sweet flag; a name)
• वचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

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

• सूचकः: sūcaka (a plant name)
• सूचकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• मतः: is considered (to be)
• मतः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (कृदन्त; √मन् धातु, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘considered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Names often encode function (karma) and form (ākṛti); understanding both supports correct therapeutic reasoning.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa as pointers: words indicate observable effects; discernment links name to efficacy without confusion.

Application: Use functional epithets (pāṣāṇabhedaka, aśmabhit, kuṭṭabhedaka) to cross-check the intended dravya, especially in contexts like urinary ‘stone’ conditions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (auṣadhi-paryāya continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of listing names like Ariṣṭa and Sūcaka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a technical catalog of beings/titles associated with death and the after-death administration, helping practitioners understand the Purāṇic taxonomy of Yama’s agents and omens.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By naming figures described through functions (stone-splitting, informing/indicating), it fits the Garuda Purana’s broader narrative in which the departed encounters specific agents and mechanisms that enforce karmic order on the journey after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of accountability: actions have consequences administered by an impersonal moral order; therefore, cultivate dharma, truthfulness, and restraint, and perform prescribed śrāddha/antyeṣṭi duties with care.