Shloka 12

Marakata (Emerald): Mythic Origin, Anti-Poison Virtue, Qualities, Defects, and Proper Wearing

Devanagari script

अत्यन्तहरितवर्णं कोमलमर्चिर्विभेदजटिलं च / काञ्चनचूर्णस्यान्तः पूर्णमिव लक्ष्यते यच्च

Transliteration

atyantaharitavarṇaṃ komalamarcirvibhedajaṭilaṃ ca / kāñcanacūrṇasyāntaḥ pūrṇamiva lakṣyate yacca

Translation

Was in überaus kräftigem Grün erscheint, mit sanftem Glanz, vielfarbig schattiert und kunstvoll verschlungen, wird gesehen, als sei es innen mit Goldstaub erfüllt.

Word by Word

• अत्यन्त: exceedingly, extremely
• अत्यन्त: Viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तीव्रतावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (intensifying adverb)

• हरित: green
• हरित: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with वर्णम्)

• वर्णम्: color, hue
• वर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कोमलम्: soft, delicate
• कोमलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with वर्णम्/अर्चिः-सम्बद्धगुण)

• अर्चिः: flame, radiance
• अर्चिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विभेद: variegation, differentiation
• विभेद: Hetu/Instrumental (Cause/means/हेतु-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (विभेद-जटिलम्)

• जटिलम्: intricate, tangled/complex
• जटिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with वर्णम्/अर्चिः-गुण)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• काञ्चन: gold
• काञ्चन: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (काञ्चन-चूर्णस्य)

• चूर्णस्य: powder
• चूर्णस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अन्तः: within, inside
• अन्तः: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: ‘inside/within’)

• पूर्णम्: full, filled
• पूर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-सम्बद्ध (इव)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: Sambandha (Comparative marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक-निपात (particle of comparison)

• लक्ष्यते: is perceived, is seen
• लक्ष्यते: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• यत्: which, that which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakshana-pariksha: discerning inner worth through outward signs (inner fullness suggested by radiance).

Vedantic Theme: Antar-bahis viveka (discrimination of inner essence vs. outer appearance) as a contemplative analogue.

Application: Cultivate careful observation and discernment—judge value by consistent inner ‘luster’ (integrity/clarity), not mere surface color.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.71 (ratna-pariksha / gem-lore sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of color and radiance imagery in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses precise visual qualities—green hue, soft radiance, and gold-like fullness—to convey how subtle realms or subtle phenomena are perceived beyond ordinary physical sight.

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

By describing a luminous, non-material appearance, it aligns with the Preta Kanda theme that the post-death journey involves subtle perception and experiences not limited to gross physical forms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages discernment: not all experiences are grossly tangible, so one should cultivate purity of conduct and mind, which the text links with clarity and auspiciousness in subtle states.