Shloka 15

Vaidūrya (Cat’s-eye) Examination: Origin, Auspicious Marks, Imitations, and Valuation Measures

Devanagari script

क्रमशः समतीतवर्तमानाः प्रतिबद्धा मणिबन्धकेन यत्नात् / यदि नाम भवन्ति दोषहीना मणयः षड्गुणमाप्नुवन्ति मूल्यम्

Transliteration

kramaśaḥ samatītavartamānāḥ pratibaddhā maṇibandhakena yatnāt / yadi nāma bhavanti doṣahīnā maṇayaḥ ṣaḍguṇamāpnuvanti mūlyam

Translation

Wenn der Juwelier die Edelsteine mit Sorgfalt in der rechten Reihenfolge auffädelt und die früheren mit den späteren passend zusammenstellt, dann—sind die Steine wahrhaft fehlerlos—erlangen sie den sechsfachen Wert.

Word by Word

• kramaśaḥ: gradually/in order
• kramaśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kramaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• samatīta-vartamānāḥ: having passed through (stages) past and present (i.e., successive)
• samatīta-vartamānāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√i (धातु) (गत्यर्थ) + atīta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + vartamāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural); अर्थः—(सम्)अतीताः च वर्तमानाः

• pratibaddhāḥ: bound/fastened
• pratibaddhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√bandh (धातु) (बन्धने)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• maṇi-bandhakena: by the gem-setter/binder
• maṇi-bandhakena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषसमास

• yatnāt: with effort/from effort
• yatnāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conditional particle)

• nāma: indeed/suppose
• nāma: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic/assumptive particle)

• bhavanti: they become/are
• bhavanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु) (भवने)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• doṣa-hīnāḥ: free from defects
• doṣa-hīnāḥ: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषसमास (doṣaiḥ hīnāḥ)

• maṇayaḥ: gems
• maṇayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ṣaḍ-guṇam: sixfold
• ṣaḍ-guṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगुसमास (numerical)

• āpnuvanti: they attain
• āpnuvanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु) (प्राप्तौ)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• mūlyam: value/price
• mūlyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūlya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper sequencing and careful ‘binding’ of elements, when free of defects, multiplies value—an analogy for disciplined, well-ordered practice and purified conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Samskara and guna-shuddhi: refinement and ordering of life-practices increases sattva and auspicious outcomes; hints at sadhana-krama.

Application: Adopt a structured regimen (daily duties, vows, study, japa) and remove ‘defects’ (dishonesty, negligence, impurity) to magnify results.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: workshop/marketplace (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana discussions where orderly observance (vrata/niyama) is praised (general thematic parallel); Garuda Purana ethical sections on shuddhi and satkriya (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of being doṣahīna (free from defects) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that purity from faults is what multiplies the worth of one’s qualities and actions—just as flawless gems gain far greater value when properly arranged.

How does this verse explain spiritual progress in practical terms?

It uses the jeweller’s method as a metaphor: disciplined sequencing (krama) and careful effort (yatna), combined with freedom from defects (doṣa), makes one’s practice yield much greater results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Build good habits in a steady order, correct recurring faults, and practice consistently—quality plus disciplined structure makes your efforts far more effective.