Shloka 9

Indranīla (Blue Sapphire): Source-Myth, Grades, Tests, Substitutes, and Price

Devanagari script

यथा च पद्मरागाणां जातकत्रितयं भवेत् / इन्द्र नीलेष्वपि तथा द्रष्टव्यमविशेषतः

Transliteration

yathā ca padmarāgāṇāṃ jātakatritayaṃ bhavet / indra nīleṣvapi tathā draṣṭavyamaviśeṣataḥ

Translation

So wie man beim Padmarāga (Rubin) eine dreifache Einteilung nach der Herkunft anerkennt, so ist es ebenso beim Indranīla (blauen Saphir) zu verstehen, ohne irgendeinen Unterschied.

Word by Word

• यथा: as/just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पद्मरागाणाम्: of rubies
• पद्मरागाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• जातकत्रितयम्: a triad (of tests/criteria)
• जातकत्रितयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातक + त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (jātakānāṃ tritayam / 'threefold set of tests/marks')

• भवेत्: should be/occurs
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इन्द्रनीलेषु: in/among sapphires
• इन्द्रनीलेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रनील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• तथा: in the same way
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in the same way)

• द्रष्टव्यम्: should be examined
• द्रष्टव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रष्टव्य (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (it is to be seen/should be examined)

• अविशेषतः: without distinction
• अविशेषतः: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अविशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic classification (jātaka-tritaya) applies consistently across comparable gems; knowledge is transferable by analogy.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and vyavahāra-jñāna: reliable worldly knowledge arises from consistent criteria and analogical reasoning (upamāna).

Application: When evaluating sapphires, apply the same threefold typology used for rubies; avoid arbitrary distinctions and rely on established categories.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.72.9 (jātaka-tritaya for padmarāga; extended to indranīla)

FAQs

What is the importance of gemstone classification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the text applies systematic, repeatable categories (here, a threefold typology) to evaluate gemstones, indicating a broader concern with lakṣaṇa—recognized characteristics used for consistent judgment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey directly; it belongs to an instructional section on classification/characteristics, using rubies and sapphires as examples of uniform criteria.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use consistent standards when assessing quality—avoid arbitrary exceptions; apply the same evaluative framework across comparable cases.