Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

व्यालवह्निविषव्याघ्रतस्कराम्बुभयानि च / दूरात्तस्य निवर्तन्ते कर्माण्याथर्वणानि च

Transliteration

vyālavahniviṣavyāghrataskarāmbubhayāni ca / dūrāttasya nivartante karmāṇyātharvaṇāni ca

Translation

For him, fears arising from serpents, fire, poison, tigers, thieves, and water turn back from afar; and Atharvanic acts—sorcery and hostile rites—also recoil from him at a distance.

Word by Word

• व्याल: serpent
• व्याल: Sambandha (Item/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• वह्नि: fire
• वह्नि: Sambandha (Item/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• विष: poison
• विष: Sambandha (Item/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• व्याघ्र: tiger
• व्याघ्र: Sambandha (Item/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• तस्कर: thief
• तस्कर: Sambandha (Item/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तस्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• अम्बु: water
• अम्बु: Sambandha (Item/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• भयानि: dangers/fears (from snakes, fire, poison, tigers, thieves, water)
• भयानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थे (व्याल-वह्नि-विष-व्याघ्र-तस्कर-अम्बु-भयानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्; अव्यय (adverb)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• निवर्तन्ते: turn back/retreat
• निवर्तन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• कर्माणि: acts/rites
• कर्माणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• आथर्वणानि: Atharvan (magical/atharva)
• आथर्वणानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आथर्वण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्माणि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious protection accrues as a phala: external harms and hostile rites recoil when one is aligned with protective merit/auspicious power.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala operating through adṛṣṭa; fear diminishes when sattva and protective means are established.

Application: Reduce risk through both inner discipline and outer safeguards; avoid harmful actions that invite retaliation; cultivate protective prayer/mantra with ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68 (vajra-phala: protection from bhaya and abhichāra)

FAQs

What is the importance of protection teachings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharmic power as a real safeguard: natural dangers (snakes, fire, poison, beasts, thieves, water) and even hostile magical rites are said to withdraw from a person established in the indicated spiritual merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing fearlessness and immunity from harm, it supports the Garuda Purana theme that righteous conduct and spiritual discipline stabilize one’s life and subtle condition, reducing obstacles that disturb one’s journey and well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate ethical living and disciplined practice (japa, purity, restraint) rather than fear-based responses; the text’s takeaway is that inner dharma is the strongest protection against both visible dangers and unseen hostility.