Shloka 24

Ratna-parīkṣā: Vajra (Diamond/Thunderbolt) — Origin, Types, Testing, Defects, Weights, and Royal Auspiciousness

Devanagari script

ईशत्वात्सर्ववर्णानां गुणवत्सार्बवर्णिकम् / कामतो धारयेद्राजा न त्वन्यो ऽन्यत्कथञ्चन

Transliteration

īśatvātsarvavarṇānāṃ guṇavatsārbavarṇikam / kāmato dhārayedrājā na tvanyo 'nyatkathañcana

Translation

لأنّ الملك يتقلّد السيادة على جميع الفَرْنات (الطبقات)، فإن كان ذا فضائل مستوفاة جاز له، بحسب ما يراه، أن يتّخذ العلامات والواجبات المشتركة بين جميع الفَرْنات؛ أمّا غيره فلا يجوز له ذلك على أي وجهٍ كان.

Word by Word

• īśatvāt: because of lordship/sovereignty
• īśatvāt: Hetu/Apādāna (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• sarva-varṇānām: of all varṇas
• sarva-varṇānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• guṇavat-sarva-varṇikam: the all-varṇa (mixed) one endowed with qualities
• guṇavat-sarva-varṇikam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavat + sarva + varṇika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (object-qualifier)

• kāmataḥ: at will / as desired
• kāmataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निपातवत् (adverbial usage), अर्थः—इच्छया/यथेष्टम् (as desired)

• dhārayet: should adopt/wear
• dhārayet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धृ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• tu: but
• tu: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध-अव्यय (adversative)

• anyaḥ: another person
• anyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• anyat: something else
• anyat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kathañcana: in any way / at all
• kathañcana: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcana (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थ-अव्यय (indefinite/at all)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The king, by lordship over all varṇas, may assume common marks/duties of all if virtuous; others may not transgress role-boundaries.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra (eligibility) and guṇa as the basis for action within dharma; authority is legitimate when aligned with sattvic virtues.

Application: Leadership may require cross-functional duties, but only with competence and character; discourage unauthorized role-appropriation and performative overreach.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.23 (royal prescriptions); Garuda Purana 1.68.25 (varṇa-saṅkara warning); Garuda Purana 1.68.26 (anti-obstinacy; virtue-centered)

Characters & Entities

• Raja (king)
• Varna (social orders)

FAQs

What is the importance of rajadharma (kingly duty) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the king’s special responsibility over all varṇas grants him broader, regulated latitude—yet it is conditioned by virtue (guṇa) and is not a license extended to others.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it frames dharma as role-bound and qualification-based; living within rightful duty (especially for rulers) supports orderly karma, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly links to post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Authority should be exercised with proven character and competence, and individuals should avoid assuming roles or religious/social privileges without the necessary qualifications and ethical grounding.