Brahma Khanda Adhyaya 204 Shloka 9 - Garuda Purana | Chinese | Vedapath

Vyasa

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Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीवृक्षः प्ररोही स्यात्पुष्टिकारीति चोच्यते / वञ्जुलो वेतसो ज्ञेयो भल्लातश्चाप्यरुष्करः

Transliteration

nandīvṛkṣaḥ prarohī syātpuṣṭikārīti cocyate / vañjulo vetaso jñeyo bhallātaścāpyaruṣkaraḥ

Translation

名为“Nandī”的树亦称“Prarohī”，又被称作“Puṣṭikārī”（增益滋养者）。名为“Vaṅjula”的植物当知为“Vetasa”，而“Bhallāta”亦名“Aruṣkara”。

Word by Word

नन्दीवृक्षःNandīvṛkṣa (a tree name)

प्ररोहीPrarohī (a plant name)

स्यात्may be/is called

पुष्टिकारीPuṣṭikārī (one that causes nourishment; a plant name)

इतिthus

चand

उच्यतेis said/called

वञ्जुलःVañjula (a tree name)

वेतसःVetasa (willow/reed; a plant name)

ज्ञेयःis to be known (as)

भल्लातःBhallāta (marking-nut; a plant name)

चand

अपिalso

अरुष्करःAruṣkara (a plant name)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Functional epithets (e.g., puṣṭikārī) and synonymy together guide correct usage and understanding of plant properties.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic knowledge (vyavahāra) as a support for right action; names encode guṇa/karma (qualities/functions).

Application: When encountering ‘nandī/prarohī/puṣṭikārī’ in recipes or rites, treat them as the same referent; similarly map vañjula↔vetasa and bhallāta↔aruṣkara to avoid harmful misidentification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204 (botanical synonym section)

Characters & Entities

Lord Vishnu

Garuda (Vinata-putra)

FAQs

What is the importance of listing plant synonyms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves authoritative synonymy—helping practitioners correctly identify plants used in ritual, medicine, and dharmic observances, avoiding confusion caused by regional names.

Does this verse describe afterlife teachings like Yama’s kingdom or preta rites?

No. This specific verse is a lexical-identification passage, mapping one plant-name to another (synonyms), rather than describing death rituals or the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When using traditional remedies or ritual items referenced in Purāṇic texts, cross-check synonyms (e.g., Vaṅjula = Vetasa; Bhallāta = Aruṣkara) to ensure correct sourcing and safe usage.