Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

प्रथमं गुणसम्पदाभ्युपेतं प्रतिबद्धं समुपैति यच्च दोषम् / अलमाभरणेन तस्य राज्ञो गुणहीनो ऽपि मणिर्न भूषणाय

Transliteration

prathamaṃ guṇasampadābhyupetaṃ pratibaddhaṃ samupaiti yacca doṣam / alamābharaṇena tasya rājño guṇahīno 'pi maṇirna bhūṣaṇāya

Translation

That which at first is endowed with a wealth of virtues, yet later becomes bound and comes to bear a fault—mere ornament is not enough for such a king; even a jewel, if devoid of qualities, is not fit to be an ornament.

Word by Word

• प्रथमम्: first, at first
• प्रथमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• गुणसम्पदा: with a wealth of virtues
• गुणसम्पदा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘गुणसम्पदा’ = गुणानां सम्पद् (instrumental: with excellence/virtue)

• अभ्युपेतम्: endowed, possessed
• अभ्युपेतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-उप-इ (धातु) → अभ्युपेत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘प्रथमम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रतिबद्धम्: attached, set (in a setting)
• प्रतिबद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-बन्ध् (धातु) → प्रतिबद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अभ्युपेतम्’ इत्यस्य सहविशेषणम्

• समुपैति: attains, goes to
• समुपैति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-इ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination particle)

• दोषम्: fault, defect
• दोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अलम्: not enough; insufficient
• अलम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पर्याप्ति/ निषेधार्थे—‘not sufficient/does not suffice’)

• आभरणेन: by ornamentation, by a setting
• आभरणेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• गुणहीनः: devoid of qualities
• गुणहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘गुणैः हीनः’ (devoid of qualities)

• अपि: even, although
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अप्यर्थ/‘even, although’)

• मणिः: a gem
• मणिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध/negation)

• भूषणाय: for ornamentation
• भूषणाय: Sampradāna (Purpose/recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/उद्देश्ये (for the purpose of ornament)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa (intrinsic virtue/fitness) outweighs external ornament; a ruler’s worth is not established by mere display.

Vedantic Theme: Satya-viveka: distinguishing substance (sāra) from appearance (nāma-rūpa); guṇa as indicator of adhikāra (fitness).

Application: Assess leaders and oneself by consistent character and competence; avoid being swayed by status symbols or superficial polish.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68 (ratna-parīkṣā/guṇa-doṣa discussion context)

Characters & Entities

• Raja (king)
• Mani (jewel)

FAQs

What is the importance of virtue over external display in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that inner qualities (guṇa) are what make a person worthy; external ornamentation cannot compensate for a lack of virtue.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it stresses that one’s inner qualities and faults—not outward status—determine spiritual worthiness, aligning with the Purana’s broader emphasis on karma and character.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize integrity, self-discipline, and good conduct over appearances or prestige; leadership and personal life become “ornaments” only when supported by real virtues.