Shloka 15

Marakata (Emerald): Mythic Origin, Anti-Poison Virtue, Qualities, Defects, and Proper Wearing

Devanagari script

यच्च मनसः प्रसादं विदधाति निरीक्ष्यमतिमात्रम् / नन्मरकतं महागणमिति रत्नविदां मनोवृत्तिः

Transliteration

yacca manasaḥ prasādaṃ vidadhāti nirīkṣyamatimātram / nanmarakataṃ mahāgaṇamiti ratnavidāṃ manovṛttiḥ

Translation

Whatever, when gazed upon to the full, bestows a soothing clarity upon the mind—gem-knowers call that “marakata,” a noble emerald, a great cluster of brilliance; such is the bent of their thought.

Word by Word

• यत्: which, that which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

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

• मनसः: of the mind
• मनसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रसादम्: clarity, serenity, delight
• प्रसादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• विदधाति: produces, bestows
• विदधाति: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked at, upon observing
• निरीक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Conjunctive action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + ईक्ष् (धातु) → निरीक्ष्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• अतिमात्रम्: excessively, beyond measure
• अतिमात्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial qualifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अति+मात्रा); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (to an excessive degree)

• नन्: indeed, truly
• नन्: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नन् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रशंसावाचक/बलवर्धक-निपात (emphatic particle, ‘indeed/very’)

• मरकतम्: emerald
• मरकतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरकत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महागणम्: a great cluster/mass
• महागणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (महा+गण); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus, as (it is said)
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• रत्नविदाम्: of the gem-experts
• रत्नविदाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक: ‘knower’)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रत्न+विद्); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (मनः-वृत्तिः)

• वृत्तिः: mental notion, judgment
• वृत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासोत्तरपद (मनोवृत्तिः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prasāda of mind as a pramāṇa-like indicator: the object’s quality is known by its effect on consciousness and by expert consensus.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-pradhāna prasāda: clarity of mind as a marker of purity; knowledge refined by śāstra and expert tradition (paramparā).

Application: Notice what reliably increases calm clarity rather than agitation; consult skilled expertise and test effects, not just appearance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.71.12-16 (marakata-lakshana culminating in explicit naming)

FAQs

What is the importance of mental disposition (manovṛtti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the mind’s calm or delight can arise from what it repeatedly contemplates; it points to how perception shapes disposition, implying the need for disciplined attention and discernment.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

By stressing how the mind becomes inclined toward what it fixates on, the verse supports the broader Purana theme that inner tendencies (saṃskāras) influence post-death experience and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Train attention: notice what repeatedly ‘soothes’ or attracts the mind, and redirect contemplation toward sattvic, ethical, and liberating objects rather than mere sensory fascination.