Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

कोट्यः पार्श्वनि धाराश्च षडष्टौ द्वादशेति च / उत्तुङ्गसमतीक्ष्णाग्राः वज्रस्याकरजा गुणाः

Transliteration

koṭyaḥ pārśvani dhārāśca ṣaḍaṣṭau dvādaśeti ca / uttuṅgasamatīkṣṇāgrāḥ vajrasyākarajā guṇāḥ

Translation

Its corners, side-ridges, and cutting edges are said to be six, eight, or twelve—lofty, even, and razor-pointed; these are the ore-born qualities of the vajra.

Word by Word

• koṭyaḥ: edges/corners
• koṭyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• pārśvani: on the sides
• pārśvani: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन (locative singular)

• dhārāḥ: blades/lines
• dhārāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ṣaṭ: six
• ṣaṭ: Visheshana (Numeral/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (numeral; used as count)

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Visheshana (Numeral/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (numeral 'eight', dual form)

• dvādaśa: twelve
• dvādaśa: Visheshana (Numeral/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśan (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; प्रातिपदिक (numeral 'twelve')

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-निर्देशक/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• uttuṅga: high/lofty
• uttuṅga: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttuṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• sama: even/symmetrical
• sama: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• tīkṣṇa: sharp
• tīkṣṇa: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• agrāḥ: having sharp tips
• agrāḥ: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: uttuṅga-sama-tīkṣṇa-agra ('having lofty, even, sharp tips')

• vajrasya: of the vajra
• vajrasya: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ākara: mine/source
• ākara: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• jāḥ: originating from mines
• jāḥ: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: ākara-ja ('born from a mine/source')

• guṇāḥ: qualities
• guṇāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa-jñāna: knowing defining marks (corners, ridges, edges) to discern genuine, well-formed objects.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa-based discernment (viveka) applied to the material world; order (ṛta-like regularity) reflected in form.

Application: Use clear criteria/standards when evaluating tools, ritual items, or valuables; avoid being misled by appearance alone.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68: vajra-lakṣaṇa enumeration; Adjacent verses describing defects and excellences of vajra

FAQs

What is the importance of the vajra described in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the vajra’s defining form—multiple edges and perfectly sharp points—emphasizing its idealized, invincible nature in Purāṇic symbolism.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly address the soul’s journey; it is a technical description of the vajra’s features within the chapter’s broader instructional narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder to cultivate “vajra-like” qualities—clarity, precision, and steadfastness—while studying dharma and living with disciplined focus.