Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

वर्णदाप्त्यपपन्नं हि मणिरत्नं प्रशस्यते / ताभ्यामीषदपि भ्रष्टं मणिमूल्यात्प्रहीयते

Transliteration

varṇadāptyapapannaṃ hi maṇiratnaṃ praśasyate / tābhyāmīṣadapi bhraṣṭaṃ maṇimūlyātprahīyate

Translation

يُمدَح الجوهَر إذا استقام لونه ولمعانه؛ فإذا انحرف عن هذين ولو يسيرًا نُقِص من قيمته كحجر كريم.

Word by Word

• वर्णदाप्त्यपपन्नम्: endowed with color and luster
• वर्णदाप्त्यपपन्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण + दाप्ति + अपपन्न (पद् धातु, क्त/निष्ठा; ‘अप’ उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वर्ण-दाप्त्या अपपन्नम् = वर्णदाप्त्या युक्तम्/सम्पन्नम्)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/हेतु (particle: indeed/for)

• मणिरत्नम्: a gem-jewel
• मणिरत्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (मणिः एव रत्नम्)

• प्रशस्यते: is praised
• प्रशस्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ताभ्याम्: by those two (color and luster)
• ताभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन; ‘वर्ण’ तथा ‘दाप्ति’ इत्येताभ्याम् (by those two)

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (adverb: slightly)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• भ्रष्टम्: fallen away/deficient
• भ्रष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रष्ट (भ्रंश् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle)

• मणिमूल्यात्: from the gem’s value
• मणिमूल्यात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मणेः मूल्यम्)

• प्रहीयते: is reduced/loses (value)
• प्रहीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: is diminished)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Value depends on essential qualities; small deviations in key attributes cause disproportionate loss—an appraisal principle applicable beyond gems.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment): distinguishing the essential from the non-essential; guna-kshaya leads to diminished ‘artha’ in vyavahara.

Application: Assess quality by core criteria; in any craft or character-building, protect the two or three key fundamentals that uphold excellence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70.31-33 (padmaraga qualities, benefits, valuation)

FAQs

What is the importance of preserving virtue in the Garuda Purana?

This verse compares virtue to a gem: its worth depends on key qualities, and even slight loss of those qualities diminishes its value—teaching careful preservation of dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stressing that even minor moral decline reduces one’s ‘value,’ it implies the soul’s post-death trajectory is shaped by the integrity of one’s qualities and conduct (karma and character).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Guard core principles (truthfulness, restraint, compassion) consistently; small compromises, repeated, can erode character and the fruits of one’s spiritual practice.