Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

वज्रेषु वर्णयुक्त्या देवानामपि विग्रहः प्रोक्तः / वर्णेभ्यश्च विभागः कार्यो वर्णाश्रयादेव

Transliteration

vajreṣu varṇayuktyā devānāmapi vigrahaḥ proktaḥ / varṇebhyaśca vibhāgaḥ kāryo varṇāśrayādeva

Translation

Selbst bei den Vajras wird die leibhaftige Gestalt der Devas nach den ihnen zugeordneten Farben beschrieben; und die Unterscheidungen sind allein nach diesen Farben vorzunehmen, denn die Einteilung beruht vollständig auf der Farbe als Grundlage.

Word by Word

• वज्रेषु: among/in vajras
• वज्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन (Locative plural)

• वर्ण: of color
• वर्ण: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम् (Genitive singular; prior member)

• युक्त्या: by the method/arrangement (of colors)
• युक्त्या: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; वर्ण-युक्त्या (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) (Feminine, Instrumental singular)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: also)

• विग्रहः: form/embodiment
• विग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (Past passive participle: ‘has been stated’)

• वर्णेभ्यः: from colors
• वर्णेभ्यः: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th), बहुवचन (Ablative plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• विभागः: classification/division
• विभागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• कार्यः: should be made
• कार्यः: Kriyā (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + ण्यत् (कृदन्त ‘कार्य’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् = कर्तव्यः (Masculine, Nominative singular; to be done)

• वर्ण: of color
• वर्ण: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम् (Genitive singular; prior member)

• आश्रयात्: based on color
• आश्रयात्: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; वर्ण-आश्रयात् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) (Ablative singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (particle: only/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa as a classificatory pramāṇa: deva-vigraha (embodied deva-form) is inferred/assigned through color distinctions.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa and upādhi: forms and names are organized through attributes; symbolic correspondence operates within vyavahāra.

Application: When using/valuing a vajra, classify it by its dominant color to determine its associated deva and intended auspicious use.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.21 (specific color-to-deva mapping); Garuda Purana 1.68.19 (ideal vajra qualities)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of color (varṇa) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse states that divine forms and their distinctions are described and classified through color-association, making varṇa the key basis for identifying and differentiating forms.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it focuses on symbolic classification—how forms (vigrahas) of Devas are described via color-based distinctions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to read traditional descriptions carefully: symbolic attributes (like colors) often function as technical markers for identification and correct understanding of a teaching or ritual context.