Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

तुलसीं सुरसां विद्यादुपस्थेति च कथ्यते / कुठेरको ऽप्यर्जुनकः पर्णो सौगन्धिपर्णिक्रः

Transliteration

tulasīṃ surasāṃ vidyādupastheti ca kathyate / kuṭherako 'pyarjunakaḥ parṇo saugandhiparṇikraḥ

Translation

తులసిని సురసా అని కూడా తెలుసుకోవాలి; దానిని ఉపస్థా అని కూడా అంటారు. కుఠేరకను అర్జునక అని కూడా పిలుస్తారు; అలాగే అది ‘పర్ణ’—సుగంధిత ఆకుల ‘సౌగంధి-పర్ణికా’గా కూడా ప్రసిద్ధం.

Word by Word

• तुलसीम्: tulasī (holy basil)
• तुलसीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• सुरसाम्: surasā (holy basil)
• सुरसाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पाठानुसार); ‘सुरसाम्’ रूपं (कर्म)

• विद्यात्: should know/identify
• विद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should know/should identify’

• उपस्था: upasthā (a name)
• उपस्था: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक-अव्यय (quotative)

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

• कथ्यते: is said/is called
• कथ्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense) ‘is said/called’

• कुठेरकः: kuṭheraka (a name)
• कुठेरकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुठेरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

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

• अर्जुनकः: arjunaka (a name)
• अर्जुनकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• पर्णः: parṇa (leaf; a name)
• पर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• सौगन्धिपर्णिक्रः: saugandhiparṇikra (fragrant-leaved; a name)
• सौगन्धिपर्णिक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौगन्धि + पर्णिकर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (सौगन्धि पर्णिकरः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, in the Ācāra Kāṇḍa teaching sections)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tulasī’s sanctity and utility are supported by right recognition of her names and forms; devotion is strengthened by correct practice.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as sādhana supported by śāstric clarity (niyama, śuddhi): correct identification enables proper upacāra to Viṣṇu.

Application: In worship and household practice, recognize Tulasī as Surasā/Upasthā; for related aromatic herbs (kuṭheraka/arjunaka/saugandhi-parṇikā), avoid substitution errors in ritual or remedy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (auṣadhi-nāma section including tulasī)

Characters & Entities

• Tulasi
• Surasā
• Upasthā
• Kuṭheraka
• Arjunaka
• Parṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of Tulsi (Tulasī) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Tulasī’s recognized sacred identity through multiple traditional names (Surasā, Upasthā), supporting correct identification for ritual purity, worship, and dharmic observance.

Does this verse describe afterlife rituals or Yama’s realm?

No. The verse is a nomenclature/identification passage in the Ācāra Kāṇḍa, focusing on plant synonyms rather than preta-karma, pinda-dāna, or Yama’s kingdom.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it to avoid confusion in ritual and herbal contexts: when a text or tradition says Surasā/Upasthā or Kuṭheraka/Arjunaka, it may indicate the same or closely related sacred aromatic plants used for worship and purification.