Shloka 7

Devanagari script

तेषां प्रधानं शिखिकण्ठनीलं यद्वा भवेद्वेणुदलप्रकाशम् / चाषाग्रपक्षप्रतिमश्रियो ये न ते प्रशस्ता मणिशास्त्रविद्भिः

Transliteration

teṣāṃ pradhānaṃ śikhikaṇṭhanīlaṃ yadvā bhavedveṇudalaprakāśam / cāṣāgrapakṣapratimaśriyo ye na te praśastā maṇiśāstravidbhiḥ

Translation

Among them, the foremost is that which is deep blue like a peacock’s throat, or gleaming like a fresh bamboo leaf. But those whose luster resembles the tip of a crow’s wing are not regarded as auspicious by experts in the science of gems.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• प्रधानम्: the chief (one)
• प्रधानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• शिखि-कण्ठ-नीलम्: blue like a peacock’s neck
• शिखि-कण्ठ-नीलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिखि (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; ‘शिखिनः कण्ठस्य नीलम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (प्रधानम्)

• यद्वा: or else
• यद्वा: Sambandha (Discourse/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (अव्यय-प्रयोगः) + वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययसमूहः (alternative: ‘or else’)

• भवेत्: may be/would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• वेणु-दल-प्रकाशम्: shining like a bamboo leaf
• वेणु-दल-प्रकाशम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; ‘वेणोः दलस्य प्रकाशः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (प्रधानम्)

• चाष-अग्र-पक्ष-प्रतिम-श्रयः: having splendor like the wing-tip of a cāṣa bird
• चाष-अग्र-पक्ष-प्रतिम-श्रयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चाष (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिम (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; ‘चाषस्य अग्रपक्षस्य प्रतिमा श्रीः येषाम्’ इत्यर्थे बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (ये)

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

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

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• प्रशस्ताः: approved/praised
• प्रशस्ताः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शंस् धातोः क्त-प्रत्यय कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (ते)

• मणि-शास्त्र-विद्भिः: by experts in gemology
• मणि-शास्त्र-विद्भिः: Karana (Agent/Instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक; √विद् ‘to know’ इत्यस्मात्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्; ‘मणिशास्त्रं विदन्ति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; करणम्/कर्तृ-निर्देशः (agent in passive sense)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śubha-aśubha viveka: certain appearances are praised as auspicious; others are avoided per expert tradition.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and niyama: choosing what supports sattva and well-being; avoiding what is considered doṣa-bearing.

Application: Seek qualified expertise before adopting ‘power objects’ or costly remedies; avoid decisions based on superficial similarity—use tested criteria.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.73 (vaidūrya-varṇa-prādhānya and aśubha-lakṣaṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of gemstone color and luster in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats color and sheen as indicators of a gem’s quality and auspiciousness, recommending peacock-throat blue or bamboo-leaf brilliance while rejecting crow-wing-tip luster as inauspicious.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader dharmic guidance?

It reflects the Purana’s practical dharma sections where sacred materials (like gems) are evaluated for suitability in worship, charity, and protective use, based on traditional expert criteria.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When choosing a gemstone for religious/ritual use, prioritize clear, bright, naturally lustrous stones and avoid dull or ominous-looking coloration described here as inauspicious.