Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

स्यादुशीरं मृणालञ्च सेव्यं लामज्जकं तथा / सारञ्च गोपवल्ली च गोपी भद्रा च कथ्यते

Transliteration

syāduśīraṃ mṛṇālañca sevyaṃ lāmajjakaṃ tathā / sārañca gopavallī ca gopī bhadrā ca kathyate

Translation

สิ่งนี้ยังเป็นที่รู้จักในนาม “อุศีระ (Uśīra)”, “มฤณาล (Mṛṇāla)”, “เสวยะ (Sevya)” และ “ลามัชฺชกะ (Lāmajjaka)”. อีกทั้งยังเรียกว่า “สาระ (Sāra)”, “โคปวลลี (Gopavallī)”, “โคปี (Gopī)” และ “ภัทรา (Bhadrā)”

Word by Word

• स्यात्: may be/is (said to be)
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उशीरम्: Uśīra (vetiver)
• उशीरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मृणालम्: Mṛṇāla (lotus stalk)
• मृणालम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृणाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• सेव्यम्: Sevya (a plant name; ‘fit to be used’)
• सेव्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय/gerundive used as noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘fit for use/service’ (plant name Sevya)

• लामज्जकम्: Lāmajjaka (a plant name)
• लामज्जकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लामज्जक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सारम्: Sāra (a plant name)
• सारम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• गोप-वल्ली: Gopavallī (a plant name)
• गोप-वल्ली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्ली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

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

• गोपी: Gopī (a plant name)
• गोपी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भद्रा: Bhadrā (a plant name)
• भद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• कथ्यते: is said/called
• कथ्यते: Kriya (Verbal predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One substance, many names—unity of referent amid plurality of expressions.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa plurality over a single dravya; practical non-confusion through viveka.

Application: When encountering sevya/lāmajjaka/uśīra etc. in texts or trade, treat them as the same dravya for consistent preparation and dosing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (dravya synonymy section; uśīra/sevya/lāmajjaka cluster)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of listing multiple names for a herb in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions like a traditional nighaṇṭu (synonym list), helping practitioners correctly identify a plant across regions and traditions for ritual and medicinal use.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices?

By preserving recognized synonyms of a substance (here, a fragrant/purifying plant like uśīra), the text supports accurate use in dharmic routines such as cleansing, offerings, and traditional remedies mentioned in Purāṇic contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When using traditional herbs (e.g., vetiver for cooling, fragrance, or purification), cross-check Sanskrit synonyms to avoid misidentification and to follow authentic practice.