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

‘کِملِہی’ کو ‘کٹُکی’ سمجھنا چاہیے؛ اور ‘اَنتک’ سے مراد ‘آمل ویتس’ ہے۔ اسی طرح ‘اشوَتھ’ کو ‘بہوپترا’ کے طور پر پہچانو، اور ‘آملکی’ بھی (اپنے ہی نام سے) معروف ہے۔

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).