Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

विद्यात्कर्षं तथा चापि सुवर्णं कवलग्रहम् / पलार्धं शुक्तिमिच्छन्ति तथाष्टौमाषकास्त्विति

Transliteration

vidyātkarṣaṃ tathā cāpi suvarṇaṃ kavalagraham / palārdhaṃ śuktimicchanti tathāṣṭaumāṣakāstviti

Translation

یہ جاننا چاہیے کہ ‘کرش’ کو ‘سُوَرن’ بھی کہا گیا ہے۔ ‘کولَگْرہ’ پَل کا آدھا ہے؛ یعنی آٹھ ماشک کے برابر، جیسا کہ اسمِرتی میں آیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• विद्यात्: should know; should understand
• विद्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कर्षम्: a karṣa (weight-measure)
• कर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधकः (conjunction)

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

• सुवर्णम्: a suvarṇa (gold-weight unit)
• सुवर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• कवलग्रहम्: a mouthful-measure (kavala-graha)
• कवलग्रहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवल + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kavala-sya grahaḥ)

• पलार्धम्: half a pala
• पलार्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (palasya ardham)

• शुक्तिम्: a śukti (measure)
• शुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• इच्छन्ति: they desire; they consider
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष्/√इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (plural)

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

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः (संख्याशब्दः), प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचनम्

• माषकाः: māṣakas (a weight unit)
• माषकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचनम्

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विरोध/विशेषार्थकः (particle: but/indeed)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचकः (quotative particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa (standard measures) as a basis for correct ritual and ethical transactions.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as preparatory discipline (niyama) supporting purity and order; right action depends on right knowledge of means.

Application: Use standardized conversions (karṣa/suvarṇa; kavalagraha = half-pala; eight māṣakas) when weighing items for offerings, dāna, or household trade to avoid under/over-giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.73-76 (continuation of māna-prakaraṇa: pala, kuḍava, prastha, āḍhaka, droṇa, tulā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of these measurements in the Garuda Purana?

This verse standardizes traditional weight/quantity units (karṣa, suvarṇa, pala, māṣa) so that ritual gifts and offerings connected with dharma and post-death rites are made in correct, accepted measures.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

Garuda Purana often prescribes dāna and śrāddha-related offerings with precise quantities; this verse clarifies equivalences among units so practitioners can calculate correct amounts for ritual observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha, pindadāna, or charity in a traditional framework, use standardized conversions (or a trusted priest/pañcāṅga guide) so offerings match intended scriptural proportions rather than arbitrary estimates.