Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

नार्या वज्रमधार्यं गुणवदपि सुतप्रसूतिमिच्छन्त्या / अन्यत्र दीर्घाचिपिटत्र्यश्राद्यगुणैर्वियुक्ताच्च

Transliteration

nāryā vajramadhāryaṃ guṇavadapi sutaprasūtimicchantyā / anyatra dīrghācipiṭatryaśrādyaguṇairviyuktācca

Translation

For a woman who longs to bear a son, even if she is virtuous, it is like enduring a thunderbolt—exceedingly hard; and if she is bereft of auspicious qualities such as long eyes and other good signs, it becomes harder still.

Word by Word

• नार्या: by/for a woman
• नार्या: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण) वा षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; प्रसङ्गे ‘नार्या (स्त्रिया)’ = instrumental ‘by/for a woman’

• वज्रम्: diamond
• वज्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र ‘अधार्यम्’ इत्यस्य विषयः (that which is to be worn)

• अधार्यम्: not fit to be worn
• अधार्यम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-धृ (धातु) → धार्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/योग्यतार्थक कृदन्त (यत्/णीयत्-प्रायः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘धारयितुं न योग्यं’

• गुणवत्: having qualities
• गुणवत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वज्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• सुतप्रसूतिम्: bearing a son
• सुतप्रसूतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘सुतस्य प्रसूतिः’ (bearing a son)

• इच्छन्त्या: by one desiring
• इच्छन्त्या: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष् (धातु) → इच्छन्ती (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘नार्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere; except
• अन्यत्र: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देश/अपवादार्थक—‘elsewhere/except’)

• दीर्घ: long (defect: long-shaped)
• दीर्घ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण); ‘आद्यगुणैः’ इत्यत्र गणित-दोषविशेषणेषु प्रथमम्

• अचिपिट: overly flat/depressed
• अचिपिट: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + पिट (प्रातिपदिक) (पिट=पिटक/पिट्ट-भावः)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; दोषविशेषणम् (very flat/overly depressed)

• त्र्यश्र: three-cornered
• त्र्यश्र: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास; ‘त्रीणि अश्राणि यस्य’ (three-cornered); दोषविशेषणम्

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (List marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयार्थे—‘etc.’)

• अगुणैः: by defects
• अगुणैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘दोषैः/अगुणैः’

• वियुक्तात्: separated from, devoid of
• वियुक्तात्: Apādāna (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-युज् (धातु) → वियुक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; ‘नार्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्—‘(स्त्रिया) वियुक्ता’

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Progeny-desire is portrayed as arduous; auspicious lakṣaṇas (marks) are culturally linked to fertility/fortune, implying a normative ideal of ‘qualified’ embodiment.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and prārabdha shaping embodied conditions; recognition of duḥkha within saṃsāric aims (putra-kāmanā).

Application: Approach family goals with compassion and realism; avoid judging worth by physical traits; support women facing fertility pressures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68 (lakṣaṇa/guṇa discussion around gems and qualities; metaphorical extension to human ‘qualities’)

FAQs

What is the importance of progeny-related teaching in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames childbirth—especially the desire for a son—as a severe hardship, emphasizing that virtue alone does not remove worldly difficulty, and that traditional texts also discuss auspicious qualities as supportive conditions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife themes?

Indirectly: it situates human birth and lineage within dharma, reminding that embodied life involves suffering and conditions—background themes that the Garuda Purana later connects to karma, rites, and post-death transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat childbirth and parenting as demanding and worthy of support and compassion; prioritize ethical conduct and wellbeing over rigid expectations, and approach family life with responsibility rather than entitlement.