Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

स्फुटिताग्निवि शीर्णशृङ्गदेशं मलवर्णैः पृषतैरुपेतमध्यम् / न हि वज्रभृतो ऽपि वज्रमाशु श्रियमप्याश्रयलालसां न कुर्यात्

Transliteration

sphuṭitāgnivi śīrṇaśṛṅgadeśaṃ malavarṇaiḥ pṛṣatairupetamadhyam / na hi vajrabhṛto 'pi vajramāśu śriyamapyāśrayalālasāṃ na kuryāt

Translation

One whose prong-region is shattered as if by fire, whose body is mottled and whose middle is stained with the color of filth—even the vajra of the Vajra-bearer (Indra) does not swiftly strike him; likewise, prosperity does not readily come to one greedy for patronage and shelter.

Word by Word

• sphuṭita: cracked/split
• sphuṭita: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sphuṭ (स्फुट्) (धातु) + -ita (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासे पूर्वपद), विशेषण (past participle; as compound member)

• agni: fire
• agni: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• viśīrṇa: shattered
• viśīrṇa: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√śṝ (शॄ) (धातु) + -na (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (समासे), विशेषण (past participle; compound member)

• śṛṅga: horn/point
• śṛṅga: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• deśam: region/part (of the horn)
• deśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समास: स्फुटित-अग्नि-विशीर्ण-शृङ्ग-देश (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/वर्णनात्मक)

• mala: dirt/impurity
• mala: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• varṇaiḥ: with dirty colors
• varṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समास: mala-varṇa (तत्पुरुष: 'dirt-colored')

• pṛṣataiḥ: with specks/spots
• pṛṣataiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन (masc., instrumental plural)

• upeta: endowed with
• upeta: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√i (इ) (धातु) + -ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासे पूर्वपद), विशेषण (past participle; 'endowed with')

• madhyam: middle/center
• madhyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: upeta-madhya (कर्मधारय: 'having a (such) middle')

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/हेतौ (particle: 'indeed/for')

• vajrabhṛtaḥ: of the vajra-bearer (Indra)
• vajrabhṛtaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + bhṛt (भृत्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समास: vajra-bhṛt ('vajra-bearer')

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• vajram: vajra
• vajram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• śriyam: prosperity/fortune
• śriyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• āśraya: support/refuge
• āśraya: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• lālasām: those eager for support
• lālasām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lālasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समास: āśraya-lālasā ('eager for refuge')

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• kuryāt: should make/do
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative, 3rd sg., active)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Doṣa (inner stain/greed) obstructs śrī just as structural defect/filth marks obstruct the ‘strike’ of power; prosperity avoids the grasping dependent.

Vedantic Theme: Kāma-lobha as mala (impurity) veiling sattva; śrī follows sattva and self-reliance aligned with dharma.

Application: Avoid sycophancy and greedy dependence on patrons; cultivate integrity, cleanliness (outer/inner), and competence so prosperity arises naturally.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68: aśubha-lakṣaṇa and doṣa descriptions; Garuda Purana ethical passages on lobha and śrī-hāni

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Vajra-bhṛt)

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling greed in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that craving for “support/patronage” (āśraya-lālasā) corrupts one’s conduct, and even ‘fortune’ (śrī) does not stay with such a person—implying that dharmic self-reliance and purity attract well-being.

How does this verse connect karma and one’s life outcomes?

By using Indra’s vajra as a metaphor for inevitable consequence, the verse suggests that inner impurity and grasping dependence shape one’s karmic trajectory—misfortune and instability follow, while prosperity does not ‘take refuge’ in the greedy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid opportunistic dependence and cultivate integrity: earn honestly, keep motives clean, reduce flattery-for-gain, and build steady dharmic habits—prosperity is portrayed as aligning with character rather than craving.