Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

न तेषां प्रतिबद्धानां भा भवत्यूर्ध्वगामिनी / तिर्यक् क्षतत्वात्केषाञ्चित्कथञ्चिद्यदि जायते / तिर्यग्विलिख्यमानानां सा (स) पार्श्वेषु विहन्यते

Transliteration

na teṣāṃ pratibaddhānāṃ bhā bhavatyūrdhvagāminī / tiryak kṣatatvātkeṣāñcitkathañcidyadi jāyate / tiryagvilikhyamānānāṃ sā (sa) pārśveṣu vihanyate

Translation

Bei denen, die gebunden und gehemmt sind, steigt ihr Glanz nicht nach oben. Und selbst wenn er in manchen Fällen irgendwie aufkommt, wird er durch queres Ritzen beschädigt; und bei denen, die quer abgeschabt werden, wird dieser Glanz an den Seiten niedergeschlagen.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), बहुवचन

• प्रतिबद्धानाम्: of the bound/attached (ones)
• प्रतिबद्धानाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति√बन्ध् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), बहुवचन; ‘bound/fastened’

• भा: lustre/splendour
• भा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• भवति: becomes/is
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्वगामिनी: rising upward
• ऊर्ध्वगामिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; ‘going upward’

• तिर्यक्: sideways
• तिर्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिर्यक् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• क्षतत्वात्: because of damage/being wounded
• क्षतत्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Case 5), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (ablative of cause)

• केषाञ्चित्: of some (of them)
• केषाञ्चित्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक ‘of some’

• कथञ्चित्: somehow
• कथञ्चित्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् + चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb), अनिश्चितता (somehow)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• जायते: arises/is produced
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तिर्यक्: sideways
• तिर्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिर्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• विलिख्यमानानाम्: of those being scratched
• विलिख्यमानानाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि√लिख् (धातु) + शानच् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), बहुवचन; ‘being scratched’

• सा: that (lustre)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• पार्श्वेषु: on the sides
• पार्श्वेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), बहुवचन

• विहन्यते: is struck/destroyed
• विहन्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right method preserves inherent excellence; wrong constraints and misaligned actions suppress natural radiance.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-prakāśa (manifestation of qualities) depends on upādhi (conditions); improper upādhi obscures brilliance—an analogy to how ignorance/constraints veil the self’s light.

Application: Do not over-constrain people or processes; align interventions with natural structure to let capability ‘shine’ (good management, good craftsmanship).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68: gem-setting and luster considerations in surrounding verses

FAQs

What is the importance of “radiance (bhā)” in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, bhā indicates the preta’s vital luster/energy that enables upward movement; when the being is “bound” by restraints, that ascending capacity is blocked or diminished.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It describes an obstructed ascent: for certain pretas the upward-going force does not arise, and even when it does, it is weakened or struck down due to damaging constraints—signaling karmic impediments in the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in a way that reduces binding karmas (harm, deceit, excess), and support dharmic rites and remembrance for the departed—aimed at removing obstacles and strengthening the soul’s onward journey.