Shloka 3

मुक्ता-उत्पत्ति-भेदाः, मूल्य-मान-निर्णयः, शोधन-परीक्षा-लक्षणानि

Pearl Sources, Valuation, Refinement, and Identification

Devanagari script

त्वक्सारनागेन्द्रतिमिप्रसूतं यच्छङ्खजं यच्च वरा हजातम् / प्रायो विमुक्तानि भवन्ति भासा शस्तानि माङ्गल्यतया तथापि

Transliteration

tvaksāranāgendratimiprasūtaṃ yacchaṅkhajaṃ yacca varā hajātam / prāyo vimuktāni bhavanti bhāsā śastāni māṅgalyatayā tathāpi

Translation

That which is produced from the elephant’s tusk, from the king of serpents (Nāga), from the timi sea-creature, and that which is born of the boar—these are generally set aside by their very nature; yet they are still praised as auspicious objects.

Word by Word

• त्वक्सारनागेन्द्रतिमिप्रसूतम्: born from bamboo, elephant, and whale (timi)
• त्वक्सारनागेन्द्रतिमिप्रसूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वक्सार + नागेन्द्र + तिमि + प्रसूत (कृदन्त; √सू (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपदसमूहः + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त 'प्रसूत'—'born from (these)'

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• शङ्खजम्: conch-born
• शङ्खजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'शङ्खात् जातम्'

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• वराहजातम्: boar-born
• वराहजातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वराह + जात (कृदन्त; √जन् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'वराहात् जातम्'

• प्रायः: generally
• प्रायः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायः (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (generally/mostly)

• विमुक्तानि: (often) blemish-free
• विमुक्तानि: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + √मुच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'free from (defect)/unblemished'

• भवन्ति: are/become
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भासा: by (their) lustre
• भासा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-रूपेण (by/with lustre)

• शस्तानि: commended
• शस्तानि: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शंस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) / शस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'praised/approved'

• माङ्गल्यतया: as auspicious (for auspiciousness)
• माङ्गल्यतया: Hetu (Cause/Purpose nuance/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माङ्गल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; भाववाचक—'as auspiciousness/for auspiciousness'

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक अव्यय-योगः (nevertheless)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra, per common Garuda Purana framing)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspiciousness (māṅgalya) can be socially/ritually assigned even when an object is materially inferior; value is multi-dimensional (utility vs. symbolism).

Vedantic Theme: Name-form valuation is conventional (saṃketa) within vyavahāra; discern both material nature and cultural meaning.

Application: Hold two lenses: practical quality and symbolic value. Use inferior items appropriately (e.g., as tokens/offerings) without misrepresenting them as premium.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: natural sources (elephant/serpent/sea-creature/boar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.69 (muktā-bheda: appraisal and auspicious use)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious objects (māṅgalya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that objects considered ‘cast off’ by nature can still be ritually valued as auspicious, emphasizing dharmic symbolism over mere material origin.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches discernment: spiritual and ritual significance is not determined only by outward appearance—an idea often applied in dharma discussions surrounding rites and merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize intention, purity of conduct, and scriptural meaning in religious practice rather than judging value solely by an object’s external or literal origin.