Shloka 5

Devanagari script

मूल्यरूपपरीक्षाकृद्भवे द्रत्नपरीक्षकः / बलाबलपरिज्ञाता सेनाध्यक्षो विधीयते

Transliteration

mūlyarūpaparīkṣākṛdbhave dratnaparīkṣakaḥ / balābalaparijñātā senādhyakṣo vidhīyate

Translation

One skilled in examining value and appearance should serve as an assessor of jewels; and one who understands strength and weakness should be appointed commander of the army.

Word by Word

• मूल्यरूपपरीक्षाकृत्: one who tests value and appearance
• मूल्यरूपपरीक्षाकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य + रूप + परीक्षा + कृत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'कृत्' (कृ धातोः क्तिन्/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) — कर्तरि (doer)

• भवे: in the department/office
• भवे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (in the matter/office)

• रत्नपरीक्षकः: gem examiner
• रत्नपरीक्षकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न + परीक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रत्नस्य परीक्षकः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• बलाबलपरिज्ञाता: knower of strength and weakness
• बलाबलपरिज्ञाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल + अबल + परिज्ञातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बलाबल इति द्वन्द्व (copulative) + परिज्ञातृ (knower) इति तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• सेनाध्यक्षः: commander of the army
• सेनाध्यक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सेनायाः अध्यक्षः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विधीयते: is appointed
• विधीयते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Assign roles by aptitude: jewel assessor needs skill in judging value/appearance; army commander needs knowledge of strengths/weaknesses (bala-abala).

Vedantic Theme: Svadharma through guṇa-karma alignment; competence as a facet of dharma in worldly roles.

Application: Match people to roles based on demonstrable domain expertise and strategic judgment; avoid nepotism or arbitrary appointments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: workshop/market; military camp/court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.112.3 (fourfold testing) as the general method; 1.112.4 and 1.112.6 specify other offices.

FAQs

What is the importance of merit-based roles in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that authority should be given according to proven skill—gem-assessing to one who can test value and form, and military command to one who can judge strength and weakness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches dharmic order in worldly life—right qualification and right duty—which supports righteous living and better karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Assign responsibility based on demonstrated competence and discernment, not status—especially in leadership, security, and financial/quality evaluation roles.