Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

सौराष्ट्री मृत्तिकाक्षारं काक्षी वै पङ्कपर्पटी / विद्यात्समाक्षिकं धातु ताप्यं ताप्युत्थसम्भवम्

Transliteration

saurāṣṭrī mṛttikākṣāraṃ kākṣī vai paṅkaparpaṭī / vidyātsamākṣikaṃ dhātu tāpyaṃ tāpyutthasambhavam

Translation

ด่างที่ได้จากดินแห่งเสาราษฏระ เรียกว่า ‘กากษี’ และมีนามว่า ‘ปังกะ-ปรปฏี’ ด้วย ส่วน ‘ธาตุ-ตาปยะ’ ที่เป็น ‘สมากษิกะ’ (เกี่ยวเนื่องกับไมกา) พึงทราบว่าเกิดจากตาปยะเอง

Word by Word

• सौराष्ट्री: Saurāṣṭrī (a kind of earth/clay)
• सौराष्ट्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौराष्ट्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मृत्तिकाक्षारम्: alkali of clay
• मृत्तिकाक्षारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका + क्षार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मृत्तिकायाः क्षारः)

• काक्षी: kākṣī (a mineral name)
• काक्षी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक्षी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पङ्कपर्पटी: mud-flake (name)
• पङ्कपर्पटी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्क + पर्पटी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पङ्कस्य पर्पटी)

• विद्यात्: one should know/identify
• विद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समाक्षिकम्: with mākṣika / containing mākṣika
• समाक्षिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + माक्षिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-विशेषण

• धातु: mineral/ore
• धातु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (धातुम् इति अर्थः; पद्ये लोप/प्रयोगभेद)

• ताप्यम्: tāpya (a mineral name)
• ताप्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ताप्युत्थसम्भवम्: arising/originating from tāpya
• ताप्युत्थसम्भवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताप्य + उत्थ + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ताप्यात् उत्थः सम्भवः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Substances are known by origin (deśa), form (mṛttikā-kṣāra), and associated markers (samākṣika) to ensure correct classification.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa and kārya-kāraṇa: effects depend on causes and constituents; knowledge is grounded in observable characteristics.

Application: When procuring kākṣī/paṅka-parpaṭī, verify Saurāṣṭra clay-alkali origin; identify dhātu-tāpya by its derivation and mica association to avoid adulteration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (lists of mineral/alkali substances and their synonyms; sourcing notes)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of naming minerals like kākṣī and tāpya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a technical identification note—clarifying regional sources and synonyms—supporting accurate use of mineral substances in traditional preparations and ritual/medicinal contexts described in the text.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not discuss the soul’s journey directly; instead, it belongs to a technical section cataloging substances and their correct names, which can be relevant to prescribed rites or traditional formulations mentioned elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a textual cross-reference for identifying classical mineral terms and synonyms; for practice, consult qualified Ayurvedic/Rasa-śāstra experts before using any mineral substances.