Shloka 14

Devanagari script

ये तु रावणगङ्गायां जायन्ते कुरुविन्दकाः / पद्मरागघनं रागं बिभ्राणाः स्फटिकार्चिषः

Transliteration

ye tu rāvaṇagaṅgāyāṃ jāyante kuruvindakāḥ / padmarāgaghanaṃ rāgaṃ bibhrāṇāḥ sphaṭikārciṣaḥ

Translation

But those born in the Rāvaṇa-Gaṅgā are kuruvindaka gems—bearing the deep-red hue of padmarāga (ruby) and shining with crystal-like radiance.

Word by Word

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• रावणगङ्गायाम्: in Rāvaṇa-gaṅgā
• रावणगङ्गायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावणगङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः: रावणस्य गङ्गा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• जायन्ते: are born/arise
• जायन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• कुरुविन्दकाः: kuruvinda gems
• कुरुविन्दकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुविन्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पद्मराग: ruby-color
• पद्मराग: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); समासः: पद्मस्य रागः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• घनम्: dense/intense
• घनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रागम्: color/tinge
• रागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बिभ्राणाः: bearing
• बिभ्राणाः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्फटिक: crystal
• स्फटिक: Visheshana (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अर्चिषः: rays/splendors
• अर्चिषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘ज्वाला/किरण’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Provenance matters: origin (deśa/udbhava) can determine the union of color (rāga) and radiance (arciṣ) that defines superior quality.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-vaiśiṣṭya: particular excellence arises from specific conditions; encourages careful inquiry into causes (kāraṇa) behind effects (kārya).

Application: In valuation (materials, information, or people’s claims), verify source and consistency of qualities; excellence is often traceable to reliable origins.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river (gem-bearing source)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70.12–13 (comparative gem qualities; arciṣ and rāga)

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa-Gaṅgā
• Kuruvindaka
• Padmarāga
• Sphaṭika

FAQs

What is the importance of Rāvaṇa-Gaṅgā in the Garuda Purana?

In this verse, Rāvaṇa-Gaṅgā is presented as a specific sacred/cosmic river associated with the origin of precious gems, indicating the Purana’s broader cosmographic mapping of rivers, regions, and their unique products.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse does not describe the soul’s journey directly; instead, it contributes to the text’s cosmological setting by describing a realm/river and the substances (gems) arising there, which frames later teachings on other worlds and post-death domains.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder that the Purana links ethics and spirituality with a sacred view of nature—encouraging reverence for rivers and restraint in material desire, even when discussing wealth like gems.