Shloka 7

Himavat Ratna-utpatti, Bhīṣma-maṇi Praśaṃsā, and Pitṛ-tarpaṇa Phala

Devanagari script

शैवलबलाहकाभं पुरुषं पीतप्रभं प्रभाहीनम् / मलिनद्युति च विवर्णं दूरात्परिवर्जयेत्प्राज्ञः

Transliteration

śaivalabalāhakābhaṃ puruṣaṃ pītaprabhaṃ prabhāhīnam / malinadyuti ca vivarṇaṃ dūrātparivarjayetprājñaḥ

Translation

যে পুরুষের চেহারা শৈবালঢাকা জল বা কালো মেঘের মতো, যার আভা হলদে কিন্তু তেজহীন, যার দীপ্তি মলিন ও বর্ণ বিকৃত—জ্ঞানী ব্যক্তি তাকে দূর থেকেই পরিহার করবে।

Word by Word

• शैवल-बलाहक-आभम्: having the hue of a mossy cloud
• शैवल-बलाहक-आभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैवल (प्रातिपदिक) + बलाहक (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—शैवलस्य बलाहकस्य इव आभा यस्य (उपमान-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ)

• पुरुषम्: a man/person
• पुरुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पीत-प्रभम्: yellow-lustred
• पीत-प्रभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (कृदन्त; √पा धातु, क्त) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारयः—पीता प्रभा यस्य

• प्रभा-हीनम्: devoid of radiance
• प्रभा-हीनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—प्रभया हीनः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• मलिन-द्युतिम्: with dull/soiled brilliance
• मलिन-द्युतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलिन (प्रातिपदिक) + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारयः—मलिना द्युतिः यस्य

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विवर्णम्: discolored/pale
• विवर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दूरात्: from a distance
• दूरात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘from afar’

• परिवर्जयेत्: should avoid
• परिवर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि- + √वृज्/√वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (आदेश/विधान)

• प्राज्ञः: the wise person
• प्राज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A wise person practices viveka in association (saṅga): avoid those whose signs indicate inner disorder, impurity, or harmful influence.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga-tyāga and sattva-saṃrakṣaṇa: guarding the mind by choosing wholesome company; external signs as prompts for caution (not absolute metaphysics).

Application: Use discernment in relationships; if someone shows persistent signs of instability, deceit, or harmful behavior, keep distance while maintaining basic compassion and non-harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ethical/ācāra passages on saṅga and omens (general)

FAQs

What is the importance of recognizing inauspicious signs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames discernment as protective: the wise avoid associations marked by impurity and distorted luster, which are treated as indicators of harmful influence or unrighteous disposition.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey or afterlife themes in the Garuda Purana?

Though not describing the after-death path directly, it supports the Purana’s broader ethic: choices of association and conduct shape one’s karmic condition, which in turn affects post-mortem outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a guideline for ethical discernment—keep distance from persistently harmful, deceitful, or degrading influences and cultivate associations that promote clarity, virtue, and inner purity.