Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

त्वगेलापत्रकैस्तुल्यैस्त्रिसुगन्धि त्रिजातकम् / नागकेशरसंयुक्तं तच्चतुर्जातमिष्यते

Transliteration

tvagelāpatrakaistulyaistrisugandhi trijātakam / nāgakeśarasaṃyuktaṃ taccaturjātamiṣyate

Translation

Khi lấy vỏ quế (tvak), thảo quả (elā) và lá nguyệt quế (patraka) với lượng bằng nhau, đó gọi là “trijātaka” — phối hương ba vị. Khi phối ấy được kết hợp thêm nāgakeśara, thì được xem là “caturjātaka” — phối hương bốn vị.

Word by Word

• त्वक्-एला-पत्रकैः: with bark, cardamom, and leaves (i.e., these ingredients)
• त्वक्-एला-पत्रकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वक् (प्रातिपदिक) + एला (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समाहारद्वन्द्व, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (त्वक्+एला+पत्रक)

• तुल्यैः: equal (in quantity)
• तुल्यैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; ‘equal (in measure)’

• त्रि-सुगन्धि: trisugandhi (the ‘three aromatics’)
• त्रि-सुगन्धि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (त्रयः सुगन्धयः)

• त्रि-जातकम्: trijātaka (the ‘three spices’)
• त्रि-जातकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + जातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः

• नाग-केशर-संयुक्तम्: combined with nāgakeśara
• नाग-केशर-संयुक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नागकेशर (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (नागकेशरेण संयुक्तम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• चतुर्-जातम्: caturjāta (the ‘four spices’)
• चतुर्-जातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + जात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (चत्वारि जातानि)

• इष्यते: is considered/accepted
• इष्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, describing ritual formulations)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right proportion (tulya-matra) and correct combination (samyoga) produce a defined, named preparation.

Vedantic Theme: Order (rita-like regularity) in practical life: precise measures yield predictable results.

Application: Prepare trijātaka by equal parts tvak, elā, patraka; add nāgakeśara to make caturjātaka—useful for recipes and formulations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.69 (pañcakola list as another standard blend)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of trijātaka and caturjātaka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines standardized aromatic blends (threefold and fourfold) used for purity, pleasing fragrance, and ritual preparation in dharmic observances described in the text.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or śrāddha practices?

Garuda Purana often specifies materials for rites; this verse provides an exact formulation of fragrant compounds that can be used where auspicious aromatics are prescribed (e.g., offerings, anointing, or perfuming ritual spaces).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For traditional worship or memorial rites, one can follow the verse’s proportional rule: mix tvak, elā, and patraka equally for trijātaka, and add nāgakeśara to make caturjātaka—keeping ingredients pure and ethically sourced.