Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

परीक्षापरिशुद्धानां रत्नानां पृथिवीभुजा / धारणं संग्रहो वापि कार्यः श्रियमभीप्सता

Transliteration

parīkṣāpariśuddhānāṃ ratnānāṃ pṛthivībhujā / dhāraṇaṃ saṃgraho vāpi kāryaḥ śriyamabhīpsatā

Translation

A king, desiring prosperity, should wear—or duly store—only those gems that have been tested and found pure.

Word by Word

• परीक्षापरिशुद्धानाम्: of those purified by examination
• परीक्षापरिशुद्धानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परीक्षा + परिशुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (रत्नानाम् इति विशेष्यापेक्षया), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (परीक्षया परिशुद्धाः)

• रत्नानाम्: of gems
• रत्नानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• पृथिवीभुजा: by the king (earth-ruler)
• पृथिवीभुजा: Karana/Agent (Instrumental of agent/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + भुज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पृथिव्याः भुक्/भुजः = राजा)

• धारणम्: wearing/holding
• धारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √धृ (धातु) → धारण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भाववाचक कृदन्त (ल्युट्)

• संग्रहः: collecting/keeping
• संग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also)

• कार्यः: should be done
• कार्यः: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; क्तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (to be done)

• श्रियम्: prosperity/fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अभीप्सता: by one desiring
• अभीप्सता: Karana/Agent (Instrumental of agent/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि√आप्/ईप्स् (धातु) → अभीप्सत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (desiring)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Only tested and pure gems should be worn or stored by one seeking prosperity; impurity brings doṣa and loss of śrī.

Vedantic Theme: External supports (upādhis) affect the mind and fortune insofar as they align with sattva and dharma; śrī is sustained by purity and right means.

Application: Use authenticated, ethically sourced, properly examined valuables; avoid counterfeit/defective items and maintain orderly storage and consecrated handling.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: court/palace

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.14 (role of expert examiners); Garuda Purana 1.68.15 (Mādhva ‘Vajra’ to be examined first)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Lakshmi (implied as Śrī)

FAQs

What is the importance of tested gemstones in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that prosperity (śrī) is supported when a ruler uses only gems that are examined and verified as pure—implying that untested stones can be inauspicious or ineffective.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey directly; instead, it teaches a dharmic principle of careful discernment and purity in material supports of prosperity, especially for rulers.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If using gemstones for religious or astrological reasons, choose ethically sourced, properly tested stones, and treat them with cleanliness and respect rather than superstition.