Gokshura, Go-kshura, Gokṣura: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Gokshura means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Gokṣura can be transliterated into English as Goksura or Gokshura, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Cikitsa (natural therapy and treatment for medical conditions)
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) is a Sanskrit word referring to Tribulus terrestris, an annual plant from the Zygophyllaceae (caltrop) family of flowering plants. It is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā and the Suśruta-saṃhitā. It is also known as Śvadaṃṣṭrā. In English, the plant is known as the “land-caltrops”, “puncture-vine” or “devil’s weed”.
This plant (Gokṣura) is also mentioned as a medicine used for the treatment of all major fevers (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which forms the first chapter of the Sanskrit work called Mādhavacikitsā. In this work, the plant is also known by the name Kulathī. In this work, the plant is mentioned being part of both the Daśamūla and Pañcamūla groups of medicinal drugs.
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) or Śvadaṃṣṭra (one of the pāñcamūlikā) refers to the medicinal plant Tribulus terrestris L., and is used in the treatment of atisāra (diarrhoea), according to the 7th century Mādhavacikitsā chapter 2. Atisāra refers to a condition where there are three or more loose or liquid stools (bowel movements) per day or more stool than normal. The second chapter of the Mādhavacikitsā explains several preparations [including Gokṣura] through 60 Sanskrit verses about treating this problem.
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Tribulus terrestris Linn. (“puncture vine”) from the Zygophyllaceae or “caltrop” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.40-43 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. Note: Gokṣura is of two kinds i.e. with smaller (Kṣudragokṣura) and bigger fruits. Both these species have more than three spikes. Gokṣura is commonly known in Hindi as Gokharū; in Bengali as Gokhuriā; in Marathi as Kaṇṭe-gokhrū; in Gujarati as Nhana-gokharū; in Telugu as Pannerumullū; and in Tamil as Nerunjī.
Gokṣura is mentioned as having ten synonyms: Gokṣuraka, Kṣurāṅga, Śvadaṃṣṭraka, Kaṇṭaka, Bhadrakaṇṭaka, Vyāladaṃṣṭra, Kṣuraka, Mahāṅga and Duṣcakrama.
Properties and characteristics: “both the Gokṣuras [Gokṣura and Kṣudragokṣura] are cold in nature and give strength to the body. They are sweet in rasa and are roborant (bṛṃhaṇa). Gokṣuras cure dysuria, lithisasis, obstinate urinary disorders, including diabetes mellitus and burning syndrome. They are good rejuvenators”.
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) refers to a medicinal plant known as Tribulus terrestris Linn., and is mentioned in the 10th century Yogaśataka written by Pandita Vararuci.—The Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci is an example of this category. This book attracts reader by its very easy language and formulations which can be easily prepared and have small number of herbs (viz., Gokṣura). It describes only those formulations which are the most common and can be used in majority conditions of diseases.
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) refers to the medicinal plant known as Tribulus terrestris, Fr., and is used in the Ayurvedic formulation known as Cyavanaprāśa: an Ayurvedic health product that helps in boosting immunity.—Cyavanaprāśa has been found to be effective as an immunity booster, vitalizer and a preventer of day to day infections and allergies such as common cold and cough etc. It is a classical Ayurvedic formulation comprising ingredients such as Gokṣura. [...] Cyavanaprāśa can be consumed in all seasons as it contains weather friendly ingredients which nullify unpleasant effects due to extreme environmental and climatic conditions.
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Tribulus terrestris Linn.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning gokṣura] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) is identified with Tribulus lanuginosus, which is used in a recipe of pills for elephants to stimulate their must-fluid, according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 9, “on kinds of must”]: “20-21. A pill of certain ingredients [for example, Gokṣura—Tribulus lanuginosus, ...], mixed with kerī (some tree), milk (or, milk [juice] of the kerī tree?) and honey, shall be given to elephants when must appears”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर).—The Gokṣura plant has sharp thorns and fruits similar to water chest-nut. The root is a component in daśamūla. The fruit is diuretic and promotes semen and strength.
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) refers to Tribullus terrestris is the name of a medicinal plant, according to the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha (chapter 4) written by Hastiruci.—The Vaidyavallabha is a work which deals with the treatment and useful for all 8 branches of Ayurveda. The text Vaidyavallabha has been designed based on the need of the period of the author, availability of drugs (viz., Gokṣura) during that time, disease manifesting in that era, socio-economical-cultural-familial-spiritual-aspects of that period Vaidyavallabha.
Gokṣura (Tribullus terrestris) is described as vīrya-vṛddhikara (virility enhancing), bala-vṛddhikara (physical and mental strength enhancing) and vīrya-doṣahara (semen defect curing).
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर) is a synonym of Gokṣuraka which refers to a medicinal plant mentioned in the 7th-century Nirantarapadavyākhyā by Jejjaṭa (or Jajjaṭa): one of the earliest extant and, therefore, one of the most important commentaries on the Carakasaṃhitā.—Synonyms of Gokṣuraka: Gokṣura, Gokharu, Gokaṇṭaka, Trikaṇṭaka, Śvadaṃṣṭrā; Tribulus terrestris Linn.—(Cf. Glossary of Vegetable Drugs in Bṛhattrayī 144, Singh and Chunekar, 1999).—(Cf. Indian Medicinal Plants, Arya Vaidya Sala 5:311, Arya Vaidya Sala, 1993-96.)
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Biology (plants and animals)
Gokshura [ଗୋକ୍ଷୁର] in the Odia language is the name of a plant identified with Pedalium murex from the Pedaliaceae (sesame) family. For the possible medicinal usage of gokshura, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Gokshura [गोक्षुर] in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Hygrophila auriculata (Schumach.) Heine from the Acanthaceae (Acanthus) family having the following synonyms: Hygrophila schulli, Hygrophila spinosa, Hygrophila schulli var. alba.
Gokshura [গোক্ষুৰ] in the Assamese language is the name of a plant identified with Tribulus terrestris var. bicornutus (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Hadidi from the Zygophyllaceae (Caltrop) family having the following synonyms: Tribulus bicornutus, Tribulus hispidus.
Gokshura [গোক্ষুর] in the Bengali language, ibid. previous identification.
Gokshura [गोक्षुर] in the Marathi language, ibid. previous identification.
Gokshura [ଗୋକ୍ଷୁର] in the Odia language, ibid. previous identification.
Gokshura [गोक्षुर] in the Sanskrit language, ibid. previous identification.
Gokshura [گوکشر] in the Urdu language, ibid. previous identification.
1) Gokshura in India is the name of a plant defined with Hygrophila auriculata in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Barleria longifolia L. (among others).
2) Gokshura is also identified with Pedalium murex It has the synonym Rogeria microcarpa Klotzsch (etc.).
3) Gokshura is also identified with Tribulus terrestris It has the synonym Tribulus terrestris Muhl. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Enumeratio Plantarum Zeylaniae (1860)
· Lagascalia (1988)
· Folia Geobotanica et Phytotaxonomica (1995)
· Ethnobotany (2004)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1898)
· Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (1825)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Gokshura, for example extract dosage, chemical composition, side effects, health benefits, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
gōkṣura (गोक्षुर).—m (S) A plant, Ruellia longifolia. Rox. Applied in Bengal also to Tribulus lanuginosus. 2 A cow's hoof. 3 A cow-track.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर).—a cow's hoof.
Derivable forms: gokṣuram (गोक्षुरम्).
Gokṣura is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and kṣura (क्षुर). See also (synonyms): gokṣuraka.
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर).—m.
(-raḥ) The name of a plant; also Gokhura, (Ruellia longifolia, Rox, it is also applied in Bengal to Tribulus lanuginosus.) n.
(-raṃ) A cow’s hoof. E. go a cow, and kṣura a hoof, the thorns getting between the hoofs of cattle; also with kan added gokṣuraka, and with khura a hoof, gokhura.
1) Gokṣura (गोक्षुर):—[=go-kṣura] [from go] m. = -kaṇṭa, or Tribulus lanuginosus, [Suśruta]
2) [v.s. ...] a cow’s hoof, [Horace H. Wilson]
3) [v.s. ...] [varia lectio] for -khura q.v.
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर):—[go-kṣura] (raḥ) 1. m. A plant; a thistle, (Ruellia longifolia) n. Cow’s hoof.
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर):—(go + kṣura = khura) m. Asteracantha longifolia Nees [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1156.] [Ratnamālā 8.] [Suśruta 2, 228, 3. 300, 3. 418, 8.] Auch gokṣuraka m. [Amarakoṣa 2, 4, 3, 17.] [Suśruta 1, 157, 2. 2, 156, 14. 461, 4. 526, 9.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 75, 10.] gokṣura und gokṣuraka (Kuhklaue?) = kṣura, aber verschieden von kokilākṣa, welches Asterac. longifolia ist, [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha 2, 403.] [Medinīkoṣa r. 18.] — Vgl. kṣudragokṣuraka und gokhura .
Gokṣura (गोक्षुर):—m. —
1) *Kuhklaue. (?) —
2) Asteracantha longifolia oder Tribulus lanuginosus ([Materia medica of the Hindus 125.298]). —
3) Nomen proprium eines Dānava [Harivaṃśa 3,47,8.] v.l. gokhura.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Gōkṣura (ಗೋಕ್ಷುರ):—
1) [noun] = ಗೋಕಂಟಕ [gokamtaka].
2) [noun] any of the hoofs of a cow.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Gokshuradi, Gokshuradiyoga, Gokshuradugdha, Gokshuraguggulu, Gokshuraka, Gokshurakadi, Gokshuramodaka, Gokshurapaka, Gokshuravaleha.
Full-text (+48): Gokshuradugdha, Gokshuraka, Shvadamshtra, Kshudragokshura, Kantakaphala, Dashamula, Gokharu, Gokhura, Padanyasa, Kantin, Goksurah, Gokshuravaleha, Gokshuradi, Gokshuramodaka, Kshura, Brhat-goksura, Trikantaka, Kshuraka, Gokantaka, Gokshurapaka.
Relevant text
Search found 32 books and stories containing Gokshura, Go-kshura, Go-kṣura, Go-ksura, Gokṣura, Goksura, Gōkṣura; (plurals include: Gokshuras, kshuras, kṣuras, ksuras, Gokṣuras, Goksuras, Gōkṣuras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
AYU (Journal of Research in Ayurveda)
Identification of fruits of Tribulus terrestris Linn. and Pedalium murex Linn.: A pharmacognostical approach < [Volume 32 (4); 2011 (Oct-Dec)]
Effect of Ayurvedic management in 130 patients of diabetic nephropathy < [Volume 32 (1); 2011 (Jan-Mar)]
A comparative diuretic evaluation of fruit and root of Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) in albino rats < [Volume 42 (1); 2021 (Jan-Mar)]
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
A LITERARY REVIEW OF GOKSHURA (Tribulus terrestris Linn) < [2018, Issue VII, July]
To evaluate sensitivity of varuna and gokshura against β -lactamases resistant and sensitive atcc klebsiella pneumonia < [2023, Issue 08. August]
A comparative study of mamejjaka ghanvati and trikatu gutika in the management of madhumeha (type-2 diabetes mellitus) < [2020, Issue 6, June]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
A critical review on Dhatryadi Kwatha < [Vol. 9 No. 7 (2024)]
Shothahara Mahakashaya - A Critical Review < [Vol. 5 No. 03 (2020)]
Role of Virechana Yoga and Rasayana Yoga in the management of Essential... < [Vol. 2 No. 03 (2017)]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter CC - Various other medicinal Recipes (continued) < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Chapter CXCVI - Therapeutic properties of drugs < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Chapter CCI - Various other medicinal Recipes (continued) < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
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