Shloka 11
यदिन्द्रनीलस्य महागुणस्य सुवर्णसंख्याकलितस्य मूल्यम् / तदेव वैदूर्यमणेः प्रदिष्टं पलद्वयोन्मापि तगौरवस्य
yadindranīlasya mahāguṇasya suvarṇasaṃkhyākalitasya mūlyam / tadeva vaidūryamaṇeḥ pradiṣṭaṃ paladvayonmāpi tagauravasya
Whatever price is fixed—reckoned in gold—for a highly excellent indranīla (sapphire), that very same value is prescribed for the vaidūrya gem (cat’s-eye), even if its weight reaches as much as two palas.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Right valuation (mūlya) based on guṇa and accepted standards; fairness in exchange.
Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-karma-based assessment; order (ṛta/dharma) expressed as proper measure and proportion.
Application: Price precious items by agreed standards (quality + weight), preventing arbitrary pricing and exploitation.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.73 (mūlya-nirṇaya for gems; comparison with indranīla)
FAQs
This verse preserves a traditional standard of assessing gems in gold-equivalent value, presenting dharmic norms for fair valuation rather than arbitrary pricing.
It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to an instructive section on worldly standards (here, gem value), which supports righteous conduct and honest livelihood.
Use transparent, consistent standards in trade and appraisal—especially for high-value goods—so that wealth is earned without deception and aligned with dharma.