Shloka 39

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

Pearl Sources, Valuation, Refinement, and Identification

Devanagari script

एवं हि सिंहले देशे कुर्वन्ति कुशला जनाः / यस्मिन्कृत्रैमसन्देहः क्रचिद्भवति मौक्तिके

Transliteration

evaṃ hi siṃhale deśe kurvanti kuśalā janāḥ / yasminkṛtraimasandehaḥ kracidbhavati mauktike

Translation

Thus indeed, in the land of Siṃhala, skilled people do this; for there, at times, doubt arises that a pearl (mauktika) may be artificial.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya (Adverbial/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed)

• siṃhale: in Siṃhala (Sri Lanka)
• siṃhale: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃhala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• deśe: in the country
• deśe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• kurvanti: do/make
• kurvanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• kuśalāḥ: skilled
• kuśalāḥ: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of janāḥ)

• janāḥ: people
• janāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• yasmin: in which/wherein
• yasmin: Adhikarana (Relative location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (relative)

• kṛtrima: artificial
• kṛtrima: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtrima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• sandehaḥ: doubt/suspicion
• sandehaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandeha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे (kṛtrima-sandeha = doubt about being artificial / artificiality-doubt)

• kracit: sometimes
• kracit: Kriya (Adverbial/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit/kracit (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: sometimes)

• bhavati: arises/is
• bhavati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mauktike: in the pearl
• mauktike: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauktika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka (discernment): skilled verification is needed where imitation is possible.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka between satya/asatya (real/unreal) applied in worldly domain; discernment as a universal virtue.

Application: Rely on skilled testing and provenance in markets where counterfeits circulate; adopt standardized verification methods.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: region/island kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.69.35-38 (processing, polishing, and wearing of pearls)

Characters & Entities

• Siṃhala (Sri Lanka)
• mauktika (pearl)

FAQs

What is the importance of the pearl (mauktika) analogy in the Garuda Purana?

It highlights viveka (discernment): even valuable things can be imitated, so one must test and verify rather than assume authenticity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, by stressing discernment—just as pearls can be counterfeit, spiritual claims and practices must be evaluated carefully to avoid error.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Apply careful verification in ritual, ethics, and teachings—seek qualified guidance, check sources, and avoid being misled by appearances.