Shloka 2

Devanagari script

वर्णेन तद्रुधिरसोममधुप्रकाशमाताम्रपीतदहनोज्ज्वलितं विभाति / नीलं पुनः खलु सितं परुषं विभिन्नं व्याध्यादिदोषकरणेन च तद्विभाति

Transliteration

varṇena tadrudhirasomamadhuprakāśamātāmrapītadahanojjvalitaṃ vibhāti / nīlaṃ punaḥ khalu sitaṃ paruṣaṃ vibhinnaṃ vyādhyādidoṣakaraṇena ca tadvibhāti

Translation

In its color it appears like blood, like the moon, like honey, and like the glow of fire—shining coppery and yellow. Again, it may appear blue or white, rough or variegated; it takes on such appearances due to diseases and other defects.

Word by Word

• वर्णेन: by color, in hue
• वर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण

• रुधिर-सोम-मधु-प्रकाशम्: having a luster like blood, soma, and honey
• रुधिर-सोम-मधु-प्रकाशम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक) + सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (rudhira/soma/madhu-sadṛśaḥ prakāśaḥ)

• आताम्र-पीत-दहन-उज्ज्वलितम्: glowing like reddish-yellow fire
• आताम्र-पीत-दहन-उज्ज्वलितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + दहन (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वलित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (आताम्रं च पीतं च दहनवत् उज्ज्वलितम्)

• विभाति: shines, appears
• विभाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नीलम्: blue
• नीलम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/assuring particle)

• सितम्: white
• सितम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परुषम्: rough, harsh
• परुषम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विभिन्नम्: variegated, distinct
• विभिन्नम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्याधि-आदि-दोष-करणेन: by causing ailments and other faults
• व्याधि-आदि-दोष-करणेन: Karana (Instrument/Cause/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक) + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (vyādhy-ādi-doṣāṇāṃ karaṇam)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that (gem)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विभाति: shines/appears (as such)
• विभाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discriminative knowledge (viveka) distinguishes true auspicious qualities from defect-caused appearances.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka as a general epistemic virtue: do not be misled by mere appearance (rūpa) without examining causes (doṣa).

Application: Inspect gems for uniformity and clarity; treat unusual roughness/variegation as potential defect; consult experts before ritual or personal use.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.75.3 (ideal qualities: glossy, pure, crack-free); Garuda Purana 1.75.4 (processing in gold leaf and fire; benefits)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing colors and textures in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses observable qualities (color, roughness, variation) to indicate that the post-death appearance is not uniform and is conditioned by prior bodily disorders and defects.

How does this verse explain the path or condition of the soul after death?

It suggests that the being’s post-death manifestation (preta-condition) reflects causal factors from embodied life—especially disease and impairment—showing continuity of conditions rather than a random state.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain health and disciplined living, and treat disease and harmful habits seriously—this teaching frames bodily conditions as ethically and spiritually consequential, not merely physical.