Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

वज्रे तां वैपरीत्येन सूरयः परिचक्षते / जातिरजातिं विलिखति जातिं विलिखन्ति वज्रकुरुविन्दाः

Transliteration

vajre tāṃ vaiparītyena sūrayaḥ paricakṣate / jātirajātiṃ vilikhati jātiṃ vilikhanti vajrakuruvindāḥ

Translation

Concerning the vajra-gem, the sages speak in a paradox: a “jāti” (a natural line or mark) scratches away an “ajāti” (an unmarked part), while the vajra and kuruvinda (diamonds) scratch away even the jāti itself.

Word by Word

• वज्रे: in/with regard to the vajra
• वज्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Case 7), एकवचन

• ताम्: that (quality)
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• वैपरीत्येन: by inversion/contrary-wise
• वैपरीत्येन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैपरीत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• सूरयः: the wise
• सूरयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

• परिचक्षते: describe/declare
• परिचक्षते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• जातिः: a (certain) kind/species
• जातिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• अजातिम्: another kind (non-kind)
• अजातिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गपूर्वक-प्रातिपदिक (negated)

• विलिखति: scratches/abrades
• विलिखति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√लिख् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जातिम्: a kind
• जातिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• विलिखन्ति: scratch/abrade
• विलिखन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√लिख् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• वज्रकुरुविन्दाः: vajra-like kuruvinda gems
• वज्रकुरुविन्दाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + कुरुविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (वज्र-स्वरूपाः/वज्र-सदृशाः कुरुविन्दाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discriminative knowledge distinguishes subtle categories (jāti/ajāti) and recognizes exceptional agents that override ordinary rules.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) and the limits of general rules when encountering an ‘apavāda’ (exception) principle.

Application: In analysis and decision-making, separate signal from noise (marks vs unmarked), and account for edge-cases that break simplistic models.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68: adjacent verses on vajra properties and classification marks (jāti/ajāti)

FAQs

What is the importance of this ‘vajra’ metaphor in the Garuda Purana?

It illustrates how sages teach subtle truths through paradox—showing that what seems like a fixed ‘mark’ can be erased, and even the notion of ‘mark vs. unmarked’ can be overturned.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to discernment: the soul’s progress depends on seeing through appearances and fixed identifications, just as the ‘marked/unmarked’ distinction is not absolute.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice viveka (clear discrimination): do not cling to rigid labels or identities; refine understanding through study, reflection, and ethical discipline.