Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

उदीच्यं बालकं प्रोक्तं ह्रीबेरं चाम्बुनामभिः / पत्रकं दलसंज्ञाभिश्चारकं तस्कराह्वयम्

Transliteration

udīcyaṃ bālakaṃ proktaṃ hrīberaṃ cāmbunāmabhiḥ / patrakaṃ dalasaṃjñābhiścārakaṃ taskarāhvayam

Translation

‘อุทีจยะ’ กล่าวกันว่าเป็น ‘พาลกะ’; ‘หรีเบระ’ รู้จักอีกนามว่า ‘อัมพุ’ ‘ปัตรกะ’ เรียกว่า ‘ทละ’ และ ‘จารกะ’ เป็นที่รู้จักในนาม ‘ตัสกร’ (โจร).

Word by Word

• udīcyam: Udīcya (a plant name)
• udīcyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udīcya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bālakam: Bālaka (a plant name)
• bālakam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• proktam: is said/called
• proktam: Karma (Predicate/कर्म-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय

• hrīberam: Hrībera (a plant name)
• hrīberam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hrībera (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ambu-nāmabhiḥ: by the names ‘Ambu’ (i.e., called Ambu)
• ambu-nāmabhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ambunas nāmāni)

• patrakam: Patraka (a plant name)
• patrakam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dala-saṃjñābhiḥ: by the names ‘Dala’ (leaf)
• dala-saṃjñābhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dala (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dalasya saṃjñāḥ)

• cārakam: Cāraka (a plant name)
• cārakam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• taskara-āhvayam: having the appellation ‘Taskara’ (called ‘thief’)
• taskara-āhvayam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: taskara (प्रातिपदिक) + āhvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य आह्वयः ‘तस्कर’ सः) — cārakam इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Synonym-knowledge (paryāya-jñāna) prevents misunderstanding across regions and lineages.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda and artha alignment; clarity of language as a tool for right action.

Application: When encountering regional names (udīcya/bālaka; hrībera/ambu; patraka/dala; cāraka/taskara), treat them as the same dravya to avoid procurement errors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.17-20 (synonym lists leading into this equivalence verse)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of synonym lists like this in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a glossary: it maps alternate names of substances/terms so ritual instructions and descriptions are not misunderstood across regions or textual traditions.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha procedures?

Many śrāddha and post-death rites mention items by variant names; knowing these equivalences helps correctly identify materials and interpret instructions without confusion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When reading or performing rites from the Garuda Purana, cross-check synonyms (e.g., leaf = patraka/dala) to ensure the correct item is chosen, especially when working with local or regional terminology.