Shloka 16

The Examination of Pearls and Padmarāga (Ruby): Origins, Marks, Defects, and Valuation

Devanagari script

तथैव स्फाटिकोत्थानां देशे तुम्बुरुसंज्ञके / सधर्माणः प्रजायन्ते स्वल्पमूल्या हि ते स्मृताः

Transliteration

tathaiva sphāṭikotthānāṃ deśe tumburusaṃjñake / sadharmāṇaḥ prajāyante svalpamūlyā hi te smṛtāḥ

Translation

وكذلك في الإقليم المسمّى تُومبُرُو، فإنّ من ينشأون من البلّور يولدون بميولٍ متشابهة؛ وقد ذُكروا بأنّهم قليلو القيمة.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner: “thus”)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipāta (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• स्फाटिक-उत्थानाम्: of those produced from crystal
• स्फाटिक-उत्थानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फाटिक (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्थ (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था/उत्-स्था)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘उत्थ’); षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural)

• देशे: in the region
• देशे: Adhikaraṇa (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (singular)

• तुम्बुरु-संज्ञके: called ‘Tumburu’
• तुम्बुरु-संज्ञके: Visheshana (Qualifier of Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुम्बुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तुम्बुरोः संज्ञा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘देशे’)

• स-धर्माणः: having similar qualities
• स-धर्माणः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (समानधर्माणः = having similar properties); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेष्यः (implied: मणयः)

• प्रजायन्ते: are born/arise
• प्रजायन्ते: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• स्वल्प-मूल्याः: of low value
• स्वल्प-मूल्याः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (स्वल्पं मूल्यं येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of implied subject)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Nipāta (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निपात (particle: “for/indeed”)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are considered/said
• स्मृताः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discrimination by origin (yoni/utthāna) and inherent disposition (sadharmāṇaḥ) in evaluating substances.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) regarding guṇa-based distinctions within prakṛti; non-ultimate value of material gradations.

Application: When assessing gems or materials, consider provenance and inherent characteristics; do not overvalue items known to be of low market/ritual efficacy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: region/country (deśa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70.17-20 (gem qualities, defects, consequences, and discernment)

Characters & Entities

• Tumburu

FAQs

What is the importance of the Tumburu region in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Tumburu as a distinct realm/region where a particular class of beings—described as ‘crystal-born’—arise with comparable dispositions, indicating the Purana’s mapping of varied births and natures across different domains.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that different realms contain different kinds of embodied existence, shaped by inherent disposition (dharma/nature) and the cosmic order described in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Focus on cultivating dharmic qualities and inner worth rather than external appearance or origin—since the text evaluates beings by ‘mūlya’ (value) tied to nature and conduct.