Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

यत्सन्धिशोषितं रत्नमन्यन्मरकताद्भवेत् / श्रेयस्कामैर्न तद्धार्यं क्रेतव्यं वा कतञ्चन

Transliteration

yatsandhiśoṣitaṃ ratnamanyanmarakatādbhavet / śreyaskāmairna taddhāryaṃ kretavyaṃ vā katañcana

Translation

A gem that has been dried out at its joints (cracked or seam-worn), or any gem that has become merely an emerald-like stone, should never be worn by those who seek auspicious well-being—nor should it ever be purchased.

Word by Word

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धे—‘which’

• सन्धि: joint, seam (of layers)
• सन्धि: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद-भावः (सन्धि-शोषितम्)

• शोषितम्: dried (at the joints)
• शोषितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष् (धातु) + णिच्? (कारणार्थ) + क्त → शोषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘dried up’

• रत्नम्: gem
• रत्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अन्यत्: another, different
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—रत्नम् इत्यस्य

• मरकताद्: from an emerald
• मरकताद्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरकत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be, may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आज्ञा), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• श्रेयस्कामैः: by those who desire welfare/the good
• श्रेयस्कामैः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्-काम (प्रातिपदिक; श्रेयस् + काम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘those desiring the good’

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

• तत्: that (gem)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्धार्यं इत्यत्र विशेष्य-निर्देशः

• धार्यम्: to be worn
• धार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + यत् (ण्यम्) → धार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ण्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त—‘to be worn/borne’ (कर्तव्यता)

• क्रेतव्यम्: to be purchased
• क्रेतव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्री (धातु) + तव्यत् → क्रेतव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त—‘to be bought’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Disjunction/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• कतम्: any (at all)
• कतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘any/whichsoever’ (निषेधेन सह)

• चन: at all, even
• चन: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चन (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (enclitic particle) ‘even/at all’; न-शब्देन सह ‘not at all’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For śreyas (well-being), avoid compromised objects; prudent restraint is itself auspicious.

Vedantic Theme: Śreyas vs. preyas discernment (choose long-term welfare over immediate attraction).

Application: Do not invest in compromised assets; avoid ‘cracked’ tools/systems that can fail—prioritize reliability and auspicious foundations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.71.18 (defects); Garuda Purana 1.71.20-21 (look-alikes and testing)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of defective gemstones in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats physical defects in gems (cracks/seams and loss of luster) as signs of inauspiciousness; seekers of śreyas are advised to avoid wearing or even buying such stones.

How does this verse relate to dharma and daily conduct?

It frames discernment in personal adornment and purchases as part of dharmic living—choosing what supports auspiciousness and rejecting items considered spiritually or ritually unfit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you wear gemstones for ritual or astrological reasons, choose stones that are intact, sound, and reputable; avoid damaged or degraded stones and prioritize ethical sourcing and purity.