Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

महा प्रभावं विबुधैर्यस्यमाद्वज्रमुदाहृतम् / वज्रपूर्वा परीक्षेयं ततो ऽस्माभिः प्रकीर्त्यते

Transliteration

mahā prabhāvaṃ vibudhairyasyamādvajramudāhṛtam / vajrapūrvā parīkṣeyaṃ tato 'smābhiḥ prakīrtyate

Translation

Was die Weisen als von großer Macht verkündet haben—das mit Viṣṇu verbundene „Mādhva-Vajra“—soll zuerst geprüft werden; danach werden wir es darlegen.

Word by Word

• महा: great
• महा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रभावम् इति विशेष्य)

• प्रभावम्: power/efficacy
• प्रभावम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विबुधैः: by the wise
• विबुधैः: Karana/Agent (Instrumental of agent/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• आद्: from/because of
• आद्: Apadana (Ablative sense/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आद् (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/हेतुवाचक अव्यय (from/because of)

• वज्रम्: diamond/vajra
• वज्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उदाहृतम्: is stated/declared
• उदाहृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-आ√हृ (धातु) → उदाहृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); विधेय-विशेषणम्

• वज्रपूर्वा: beginning with the diamond
• वज्रपूर्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वज्रं पूर्वं यस्याः)

• परीक्षा: examination
• परीक्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thereafter/from that)

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Karana/Agent (Instrumental of agent/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्त्यते: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्त्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (is proclaimed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even sacred/powerful objects must be examined first; description follows verification.

Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā with viveka: reverence is balanced by discernment; truth is approached through proper inquiry (parīkṣā).

Application: Before adopting powerful remedies/amulets/claims, test authenticity and suitability; combine devotion with careful evaluation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.13-14 (testing and expert appraisal); Garuda Purana 1.68.16 (origin of vajras from bone fragment)

Characters & Entities

• Vibudhas (the wise/learned)
• Madhva (Vishnu-related epithet/concept)
• Vajra

FAQs

What is the importance of examining (parīkṣā) a rite or teaching in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that even highly praised, powerful teachings should be properly verified/understood first, and only then taught or applied—preventing blind or incorrect ritual practice.

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

Indirectly: it signals a structured, step-by-step exposition of potent means relevant to the post-death context—first clarifying the most powerful element (“Vajra”), then proceeding with the rest of the teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before adopting any ‘powerful’ spiritual remedy or death-rite, learn its meaning, context, and correct method from reliable sources—then practice with clarity and discipline.