Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

भद्रदारु देवकाष्ठं दारु स्याद्देवदारुकम् / कुष्ठमामयमाख्यातं मांसीञ्च नलदंशनम्

Transliteration

bhadradāru devakāṣṭhaṃ dāru syāddevadārukam / kuṣṭhamāmayamākhyātaṃ māṃsīñca naladaṃśanam

Translation

Bhadradāru được gọi là “devakāṣṭha” (gỗ thiêng); còn thứ gỗ mang tên devadāru thì lại được gọi là devadāruka. Kuṣṭha cũng được nói đến với tên āmaya (dược thảo trị bệnh), và māṃsī cũng được biết là nalada-āṃśana.

Word by Word

• भद्रदारु: bhadradāru (a kind of cedar/wood)
• भद्रदारु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र + दारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (भद्रं दारु)

• देवकाष्ठम्: devakāṣṭha (divine wood; name of a plant/wood)
• देवकाष्ठम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवस्य काष्ठम्)

• दारु: wood; dāru (name)
• दारु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be; is said to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवदारुकम्: devadāruka (name of a plant/wood)
• देवदारुकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + दारुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवस्य दारुकम्)

• कुष्ठम्: kuṣṭha (costus; also leprosy)
• कुष्ठम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• आमयम्: disease; ailment (āmaya)
• आमयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• आख्यातम्: is declared/called
• आख्यातम्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु) → आख्यात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-भावः

• मांसी: māṃsī (spikenard)
• मांसी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• नलदंशनम्: nalada-aṃśana (a kind of fragrant root/plant)
• नलदंशनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नलद + अंशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नलदस्य अंशनम्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge of names and substances prevents error in practice (vaidya/ritual supply) and supports welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and viveka at the practical level: correct designation (nāma) aligned with real utility (artha).

Application: Use these synonyms to avoid confusion in procurement, prescription, and commentary reading; cross-check regional names when sourcing herbs.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (dravya-nighaṇṭu style synonym lists continuing in adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of herb-synonyms like bhadradāru and devakāṣṭha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves technical synonymy used in ritual and medicine, helping practitioners correctly identify materials (woods and aromatics) referenced elsewhere in Purāṇic rites and prescriptions.

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

While not describing the afterlife directly, such synonym-lists support accurate selection of fragrant woods and herbs that may be used in purification, incense, and other observances mentioned across Purāṇic practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a glossary aid: when studying or preparing traditional materials, cross-check variant names (devakāṣṭha/devadāru/kuṣṭha/māṃsī) to avoid misidentification.