Gokshura is a compound of two ordinary words. Go is a cow. Kshura is a hoof. Put together they describe a small spiny fruit that catches in the foot of an animal crossing dry ground.
A name taken from the fruit
The plant is Tribulus terrestris, and its fruit carries hard spines. That is the feature the Sanskrit name fixes on, and it is the same feature behind the English common name, puncture vine. Two languages, separated by a continent, named the same plant after the same inconvenience.
Gokhru, and the other spellings
In everyday Indian usage the plant is Gokhru, which is the same word worn down by centuries of speech. You will also meet Goksuraka and the transliteration Goksura. These are spellings and vernacular forms of one name, not different plants.
What the classical lexicons add
Alongside Gokshura the texts record Trikanta, Svadamstra and Traikantaka. Trikanta points at thorns, and the pattern is the same as Arjuna’s, where each synonym describes something about the plant.
On the label
Gokshura Capsules from Art of Vedas name Tribulus terrestris, because a botanical species is the one part of the name that does not shift between languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gokhru the same as Gokshura?
Yes. Gokhru is the everyday form of the same name.
What does Gokshura mean?
Cow’s hoof, from go, cow, and kshura, hoof, after the spined fruit.
Why is it called puncture vine in English?
For the same reason: the spines of the fruit puncture what passes over them.
This article is for educational purposes and describes the classical Ayurvedic record. The products mentioned are food supplements, not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Take them under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.
