Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

न चापि तण्डुलैरेव वज्राणां धरणक्रमः / अष्टाभिः सर्षपैर्गैरैस्तंण्डुलं परिकल्पयेत्

Transliteration

na cāpi taṇḍulaireva vajrāṇāṃ dharaṇakramaḥ / aṣṭābhiḥ sarṣapairgairaistaṃṇḍulaṃ parikalpayet

Translation

The standard of weights (dharaṇa-krama) for the “vajra” is not fixed by rice-grains alone; rather, one should define a single rice-grain (taṇḍula) as equal to eight white mustard seeds (sarṣapa).

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-शब्दः (emphatic/also particle)

• taṇḍulaiḥ: with rice-grains
• taṇḍulaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṇḍula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• eva: only/just
• eva: Sambandha (Restriction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (restrictive particle)

• vajrāṇām: of diamonds
• vajrāṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• dharaṇa-kramaḥ: the method/order of weighing
• dharaṇa-kramaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धरणस्य क्रमः)

• aṣṭābhiḥ: with eight
• aṣṭābhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (instrumental plural)

• sarṣapaiḥ: with mustard-seeds
• sarṣapaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarṣapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• gauraiḥ: white/pale
• gauraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with sarṣapaiḥ)

• taṇḍulam: a rice-grain (measure)
• taṇḍulam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṇḍula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (accusative singular)

• parikalpayet: should determine/compute
• parikalpayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√kḷp (कॢप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa (standard measure) must be defined by consistent units, not by vague convention.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-niyama (order in empirical dealings) supporting satya and fairness.

Application: Use standardized, reproducible measures in trade/valuation; avoid arbitrary or manipulable units.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68 (ratna-lakshana/ratna-pariksha context)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual measurements in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes standardizing units used in rites—ensuring offerings and ritual items are measured consistently rather than by vague or variable grain counts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it supports the correct performance of post-death rites (like śrāddha/piṇḍa), which the Garuda Purana links with aiding the preta’s transition and well-being in the after-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or related observances, follow a consistent traditional standard (or a competent priest’s standardized measure) so the ritual is done carefully and without avoidable error.