Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

अधरोत्तरवृत्तया हि यादृक् स्याद्वर्णसङ्करः / ततः कष्टतरो वज्रवर्णानां सङ्करो मतः

Transliteration

adharottaravṛttayā hi yādṛk syādvarṇasaṅkaraḥ / tataḥ kaṣṭataro vajravarṇānāṃ saṅkaro mataḥ

Translation

যেতিয়া আচৰণ ওলোটা হয়—তলৰ জনে ওপৰৰ দৰে আৰু ওপৰৰ জনে তলৰ দৰে চলিবলৈ ধৰে—তেতিয়া বৰ্ণসংকৰ (সামাজিক বিশৃঙ্খলা) জন্মে। তাৰ থেকেও অধিক কষ্টদায়ক বুলি ‘বজ্ৰবৰ্ণ’সকলৰ পৰস্পৰ সংকৰ ধৰা হয়।

Word by Word

• adhara-uttara-vṛttyā: by lower-and-higher conduct (intermixture of practices)
• adhara-uttara-vṛttyā: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhara + uttara + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘अधरोत्तर’ इति द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद

• hi: indeed
• hi: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• yādṛk: of whatever kind
• yādṛk: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yādṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्न/सम्बन्धविशेषण (correlative adjective)

• syāt: may be / should be
• syāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• varṇa-saṅkaraḥ: intermixture of varṇas
• varṇa-saṅkaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa + saṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tataḥ: therefore / from that
• tataḥ: Hetu/Logical connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), अर्थः—तस्मात्/ततः (therefore/from that)

• kaṣṭataraḥ: more difficult/worse
• kaṣṭataraḥ: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

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

• saṅkaraḥ: intermixture
• saṅkaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mataḥ: is considered
• mataḥ: Karta/Predicate (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (मन् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle) ‘मत’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘considered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Role-inversion in conduct generates varṇa-saṅkara; intermixture among rigid ‘vajra’ classes is especially harmful.

Vedantic Theme: When dharma (order) is violated, tamas/rajas dominate leading to saṃkara (confusion); societal karma ripens as collective suffering.

Application: Maintain integrity of responsibilities and competencies; prevent institutional role-confusion (e.g., authority without accountability, expertise without ethics).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.24 (role boundaries); Garuda Purana 1.68.26 (virtue over obstinacy)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Varna

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇa-saṅkara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames varṇa-saṅkara as arising primarily from inverted conduct—when social roles and duties are undermined—making it a dharmic breakdown rather than merely a birth-based issue.

How does this verse explain the consequences of inverted conduct?

It states that when the ‘lower’ imitates the ‘higher’ and the ‘higher’ adopts ‘lower’ behavior, social confusion follows; and when even the firm, ‘vajra-like’ groups mix in such disorder, the harm is considered more severe.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain integrity in one’s duties and ethical standards—avoid status-driven hypocrisy and role-confusion—so that personal conduct supports social harmony and dharma.