Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

क्षौमेण वाससा मृष्टा दीप्तिं त्यजति पुत्रिका / लाघवेनैव काचस्य शक्या कर्तुं विभावना

Transliteration

kṣaumeṇa vāsasā mṛṣṭā dīptiṃ tyajati putrikā / lāghavenaiva kācasya śakyā kartuṃ vibhāvanā

Translation

A Putrikā, a glass bead, when rubbed with a linen cloth, casts off its dullness and becomes lustrous; likewise, by the very lightness of glass, brilliance can be produced in it.

Word by Word

• क्षौमेण: with linen
• क्षौमेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• वाससा: with a cloth/garment
• वाससा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• मृष्टा: being polished
• मृष्टा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृज् (धातु) + क्त → मृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—‘wiped/polished’ (पुत्रिका इति विशेष्यस्य)

• दीप्तिम्: brightness, lustre
• दीप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• त्यजति: abandons, loses
• त्यजति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुत्रिका: putrikā (imitation gem)
• पुत्रिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लाघवेन: by lightness
• लाघवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• काचस्य: of glass
• काचस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• शक्या: possible
• शक्या: Karta (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक् (धातु) + यत् → शक्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त—‘possible/able’ (विभावना इति विशेष्यस्य)

• कर्तुम्: to make
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् → कर्तुम् (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थे—‘to do/make’

• विभावना: distinction/recognition (test)
• विभावना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brilliance can be manufactured; apparent luster is not proof of intrinsic value—test and verify.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā-like semblance: surface brilliance vs. underlying substance; need for pramāṇa (reliable means of knowledge).

Application: Use tests (friction/polish, weight, provenance) to detect imitation; in life, distinguish cultivated image from real competence/virtue.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.71.20 (Putrikā as look-alike); Garuda Purana 1.71.18-19 (defects and avoidance)

FAQs

What is the importance of purification imagery in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses polishing a glass bead as an analogy: just as rubbing removes dullness and reveals lustre, disciplined practice removes inner impurities and reveals innate clarity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies the soul’s inherent radiance is obscured by coverings (impurities); through refining practices, the obscuration is reduced and the natural brilliance becomes manifest.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt steady “polishing” habits—ethical conduct, self-restraint, and reflective practice—so that clarity and right judgment naturally increase over time.