Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

वज्रैर्वज्रं विलिखति नान्येन विलिख्यते वज्रम् / वज्राणि मुक्तामणयो ये च केचन जातयः

Transliteration

vajrairvajraṃ vilikhati nānyena vilikhyate vajram / vajrāṇi muktāmaṇayo ye ca kecana jātayaḥ

Translation

A diamond is scratched only by diamonds; nothing else can scratch a diamond. Diamonds, pearls, and other such gems belong to that class of hard and precious substances.

Word by Word

• वज्रैः: by vajras/diamonds
• वज्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), बहुवचन

• वज्रम्: a vajra/diamond
• वज्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

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

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

• अन्येन: by anything else
• अन्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), एकवचन

• विलिख्यते: is scratched
• विलिख्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√लिख् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• वज्रम्: the vajra
• वज्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन (कर्मणि प्रयोगे कर्तृस्थाने)

• वज्राणि: vajras/diamonds
• वज्राणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

• मुक्तामणयः: pearls and gems
• मुक्तामणयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ता + मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (मुक्ताश्च मणयश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

• ये: which/who
• ये: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

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

• केचन: some
• केचन: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क + चन (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun)

• जातयः: kinds/species
• जातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Only like (or superior within the same class) can transform like—an implicit principle of comparable potency.

Vedantic Theme: Sāmānya-viśeṣa reasoning (general/specific) and the notion of śakti (capacity) determining effect.

Application: For difficult problems, apply tools of equal caliber; invest in appropriate instruments and peer-level mentorship for ‘hard’ tasks.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68: continuity of vajra-guṇa and ratna-jāti classification

FAQs

What is the importance of this diamond analogy in the Garuda Purana?

It teaches discernment: certain things can be affected only by their own kind—strength meets strength—so one should understand the true means required for a given task or transformation.

How does this verse relate to the broader Vishnu–Garuda teaching style?

It uses a concrete, worldly example (gemstones and hardness) to communicate a principle of right understanding and appropriate means, a common didactic method in the Purana’s instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose the right remedy for the right problem: cultivate matching qualities (discipline for discipline, knowledge for ignorance), and seek competent guidance rather than ineffective substitutes.