A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c43.s2.31

v3.c43.s2.31

The *Ratnamālā* consists, apart from six introductory (1–12) and two concluding verses (1755–1758), of a synonymous (13–1472) and a homonymous section²⁵¹ (1474–1640), followed by a section containing definitions (1642–1754). The contents are summarily listed in ardhaślokas 9–12. The synonyms are dealt with first in ślokas (13–216) and ardhaślokas (218–578), followed by pādas (580–1424) and ardhapādas (1425–1472). The synonyms are usually given separately, in the nominative, without making making much use of dvandas and ekaśeṣas. The names of plants, animals, inorganic substances, articles of food, etc. (13–854), are accompanied by their vernacular counterparts. The homonyms are divided into apyarthas (words with a single additional meaning each, given in the locative and indicated by the particle api), dvyarthas (words with two meanings) and bahvarthas (words with more than two meanings), distributed as follows: apyarthas (one apyartha in one pāda) (1474–1504), dvyarthas (one dvyartha in one pāda) (1505–1554), dvyarthas (one dvyartha in one ardhaśloka) (1555–1586), and bahvarthas (1587–1640). The bahvarthas have from three to eight meanings and are arranged in such a way that the number of acceptations increases. The section dealing with definitions covers dietary articles (1642–1686), paribhāṣā (technical rules; 1687–1735), and māna (weights and measures; 1737–1754). The junctions between the various parts are indicated in the text itself (217; 579; 1473; 1641).