Shloka 6

Vaidūrya (Cat’s-eye) Examination: Origin, Auspicious Marks, Imitations, and Valuation Measures

Devanagari script

पद्मरागमुपादाय मणिवर्णा हि ये क्षितौ / सर्वांस्तान्वर्णशोभाभिर्वैदूर्यमनुगच्छति

Transliteration

padmarāgamupādāya maṇivarṇā hi ye kṣitau / sarvāṃstānvarṇaśobhābhirvaidūryamanugacchati

Translation

Taking the padmarāga (ruby) as the standard, among the jewel-colors found on earth the vaidūrya (cat’s-eye) follows and surpasses them all by the splendor of its hue.

Word by Word

• पद्मरागम्: ruby (padmarāga)
• पद्मरागम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; ‘पद्मस्य रागः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• उपादाय: having taken/assuming
• उपादाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having taken/assuming’

• मणि-वर्णाः: having gem-like colors
• मणि-वर्णाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; ‘मणेः वर्णः येषाम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (ये)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphasis/causal particle)

• ये: those who/which
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• क्षितौ: on earth
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचनम्; अधिकरणम्

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (तान्)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• वर्ण-शोभाभिः: by (their) color-beauties
• वर्ण-शोभाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्; ‘वर्णस्य शोभा’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; करणम्

• वैदूर्यम्: cat’s-eye (vaidūrya)
• वैदूर्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; कर्तृपदम्

• अनुगच्छति: follows/surpasses (in appearance)
• अनुगच्छति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa (definitional) knowledge: establishing standards (padmarāga) and evaluating relative splendor among gem-colors.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) applied to the world of qualities; comparative judgment as a tool for right choice.

Application: Use benchmarks when evaluating value/quality (in objects, decisions, relationships); cultivate trained perception rather than impulse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: earth/terrain (general)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.73 (padmarāga and vaidūrya color-lakṣaṇa context)

FAQs

What is the importance of vaidūrya (cat’s-eye) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights vaidūrya as exceptionally radiant—its color-lustre is presented as superior when compared against other gemstone hues, using padmarāga (ruby) as a benchmark.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to a descriptive passage on worldly qualities (here, gemstones), using comparative imagery to emphasize excellence and brilliance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the verse as a reminder to value inner and outer clarity: cultivate qualities that genuinely “shine” (character, discipline, purity) rather than relying only on appearances or status-symbols.