Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

विप्रस्य शङ्खकुमुदस्फटिकावदातः स्यात्क्षत्त्रियस्य शशबभ्रुविलोचनाभः / वैश्यस्य कान्तकदलीदलसन्निकाशः शूद्रस्य धौतकरवालसमानदीप्तिः

Transliteration

viprasya śaṅkhakumudasphaṭikāvadātaḥ syātkṣattriyasya śaśababhruvilocanābhaḥ / vaiśyasya kāntakadalīdalasannikāśaḥ śūdrasya dhautakaravālasamānadīptiḥ

Translation

The scripture declares: a brāhmaṇa shines radiant-white like a conch (śaṅkha), a white lotus, or crystal; a kṣatriya bears the tawny-brown hue of a hare’s eye; a vaiśya resembles the lustrous green of a banana leaf; and a śūdra gleams like a freshly polished sword-blade.

Word by Word

• viprasya: of a Brahmin
• viprasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• śaṅkha-kumuda-sphaṭika-avadātaḥ: white like conch, lotus, and crystal
• śaṅkha-kumuda-sphaṭika-avadātaḥ: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha + kumuda + sphaṭika + avadāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (descriptive)

• syāt: should be / would be
• syāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• kṣattriyasya: of a Kshatriya
• kṣattriyasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣattriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• śaśa-babhru-vilocana-ābhaḥ: having the hue of hare-brown eyes
• śaśa-babhru-vilocana-ābhaḥ: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaśa + babhru + vilocana + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• vaiśyasya: of a Vaishya
• vaiśyasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• kānta-kadalī-dala-sannikāśaḥ: resembling a shining banana leaf
• kānta-kadalī-dala-sannikāśaḥ: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kānta + kadalī + dala + sannikāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• śūdrasya: of a Shudra
• śūdrasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• dhauta-karavāla-samāna-dīptiḥ: having a brilliance like a polished sword
• dhauta-karavāla-samāna-dīptiḥ: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhauta + karavāla + samāna + dīpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-identification through traditional complexion/tejas markers; social typology framed as observable qualities.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/karma-based manifestation in embodied life (prakṛti-lakṣaṇa) rather than ultimate Self; conventional (vyāvahārika) ordering.

Application: Use as a cultural-ethical reminder of role-differentiation and self-discipline; avoid reading as spiritual hierarchy—treat as descriptive convention within dharma discourse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.23-26 (continuation on royal complexions, varṇa duties, and varṇa-saṅkara)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya
• Śūdra

FAQs

What is the importance of varna descriptions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses symbolic color-and-lustre imagery to classify the four varnas, presenting an idealized traditional taxonomy within the Purana’s dharma-teachings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; rather, it belongs to the dharma/ācāra layer of instruction that frames social duties—often treated in the Garuda Purana as supportive context for righteous living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a historical-scriptural classification and focus on the broader Purāṇic aim: cultivating purity of conduct, disciplined living, and ethical duty (dharma) rather than judging people by external traits.