Shloka 5

Karketana (Karketa) Lakṣaṇa: Origin, Color-Forms, Purity Marks, and Ritual Efficacy

Devanagari script

एवंविधं बहुगुणं मणिमावहन्ति कर्केतनं शुभलङ्कृतये नरा ये / ते पूजिता बहुधना बहुबान्धवाश्च नित्योज्ज्वलाः प्रमुदिता अपिते भवन्ति

Transliteration

evaṃvidhaṃ bahuguṇaṃ maṇimāvahanti karketanaṃ śubhalaṅkṛtaye narā ye / te pūjitā bahudhanā bahubāndhavāśca nityojjvalāḥ pramuditā apite bhavanti

Translation

Men who wear the many-virtuous jewel Karketana (hessonite/garnet) as an auspicious adornment are honored, blessed with abundant wealth and many kinsmen; they remain ever radiant and joyful.

Word by Word

• एवंविधम्: of such a kind
• एवंविधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवं + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• बहुगुणम्: having many qualities
• बहुगुणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मणिम्: gem
• मणिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आवहन्ति: bring/obtain
• आवहन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कर्केतनम्: the karketana gem
• कर्केतनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्केतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शुभलङ्कृतये: for auspicious adornment
• शुभलङ्कृतये: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ + लङ्कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संकेत (correlative pronoun)

• पूजिताः: honored/worshipped
• पूजिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• बहुधनाः: very wealthy
• बहुधनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• बहुबान्धवाः: having many relatives
• बहुबान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

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

• नित्योज्ज्वलाः: always radiant
• नित्योज्ज्वलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• प्रमुदिताः: delighted
• प्रमुदिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + मुद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपेक्षाबोधक

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्त-संबोधन (resumptive)

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra-approved adornment (ratna-dhāraṇa) is said to support śrī (prosperity), social esteem, and mental uplift.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi and anukūla-prārabdha: external supports are meaningful when subordinated to dharma.

Application: If following ratna-śāstra, wear a properly sourced/verified karketana for auspiciousness; prioritize ethical conduct and gratitude alongside any remedial practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.75 (ratna-lakṣaṇa and phala of gemstones); Garuda Purana 1.76 (ākara/origin of gems)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Karketana (gem)

FAQs

What is the importance of karketana (garnet) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents karketana as a many-virtued jewel whose wearing for auspicious adornment is said to bring honor, prosperity, strong family support, and a radiant, joyful life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches a dharmic, this-life practice (auspicious ornamentation with a prescribed gem) associated with wellbeing and favorable worldly outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the teaching as guidance toward auspicious, disciplined living: choose adornments and habits that support clarity, confidence, and ethical prosperity, and prioritize actions that earn respect and strengthen family/community bonds.