Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

किंलिहीं कटुकीं विद्यादन्तकश्चाम्लवेतसः / अश्वत्था बहुपत्रा च विज्ञेया चामलक्यपि

Transliteration

kiṃlihīṃ kaṭukīṃ vidyādantakaścāmlavetasaḥ / aśvatthā bahupatrā ca vijñeyā cāmalakyapi

Translation

‘கிம்லிஹீ’ என்பது ‘கடுகீ’ என்று அறிய வேண்டும்; ‘அந்தக’ என்பது ‘ஆம்லவேதஸ’ ஆகும். அதுபோல் ‘அஸ்வத்த’ என்பதை ‘பஹுபத்ரா’ என அறிக; ‘ஆமலகீ’யும் (அதே பெயரால்) அறியப்படுகிறது.

Word by Word

• किंलिहीम्: ‘kiṃlihī’ (plant name)
• किंलिहीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंलिही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कटुकीम्: ‘kaṭukī’ (plant name)
• कटुकीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटुकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विद्यात्: one should know
• विद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• दन्तकः: ‘dantaka’ (name)
• दन्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• आम्लवेतसः: ‘āmlavetasa’ (sour cane; plant name)
• आम्लवेतसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम्ल + वेतस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (आम्लः वेतसः)

• अश्वत्था: aśvatthā (sacred fig; here as name)
• अश्वत्था: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बहुपत्रा: having many leaves
• बहुपत्रा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (बहूनि पत्राणि यस्याः)

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

• विज्ञेया: should be known/recognized
• विज्ञेया: Karma (Predicate complement/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) → विज्ञेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: विधेयार्थक-कर्तव्यता (gerundive); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘should be recognized’

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

• आमलकी: āmalakī (Indian gooseberry)
• आमलकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमलकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge includes knowing that different names can denote the same entity; this prevents ritual/medical error and preserves tradition.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-satya: conventional truth must be handled accurately; śabda-pramāṇa as guide.

Application: When encountering rare names in manuscripts or oral tradition, map them to common identifications (Kaṭukī, Āmlavetasa, Aśvattha, Āmalakī) before procurement or use.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.44 (synonym identifications)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of herb-identification verses in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a synonym-key for plants, helping readers correctly match regional or alternate Sanskrit names (e.g., Kiṃlihī = Kaṭukī) when applying Garuda Purana’s health and ritual-adjacent prescriptions.

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

Alongside descriptions of dharma and post-death rites, the Garuda Purana also preserves practical knowledge—here, a concise mapping of plant names used in traditional medicine and religious practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cross-reference when encountering alternate Sanskrit names in Ayurveda or Purana-based remedies—confirming identity before sourcing or using herbs (ideally with qualified Ayurvedic guidance).