Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

कर्केतनं यदि परीक्षितवर्णरूपं प्रत्यग्रभास्वरदिवाकरसुप्रकाशम् / तस्योत्तमस्य मणि शास्त्रविदां महिम्ना तुल्यं तु मूल्यमुदितं तुलितस्य कार्यम्

Transliteration

karketanaṃ yadi parīkṣitavarṇarūpaṃ pratyagrabhāsvaradivākarasuprakāśam / tasyottamasya maṇi śāstravidāṃ mahimnā tulyaṃ tu mūlyamuditaṃ tulitasya kāryam

Translation

If Karketana (hessonite) is examined and found true in color and form—shining with fresh brilliance like the radiant sun—then, by the authoritative judgment of those learned in the śāstras, the declared value of that finest gem should be taken as equal to what is established by proper weighing and appraisal.

Word by Word

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

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• परीक्षितवर्णरूपम्: whose color and form are examined
• परीक्षितवर्णरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + ईक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + वर्ण + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; (परीक्षित = क्त-कृदन्त)

• प्रत्यग्रभास्वरदिवाकरसुप्रकाशम्: very bright like the fresh-radiant sun
• प्रत्यग्रभास्वरदिवाकरसुप्रकाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यग्र + भास्वर + दिवाकर + सुप्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-समास, विशेषण

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• उत्तमस्य: of the best
• उत्तमस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (of the best)

• मणे: of the gem
• मणे: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (वैकल्पिक/वैदिक-प्रयोग; मणे = मणेः-स्थाने)

• शास्त्रविदाम्: of the knowers of the treatises
• शास्त्रविदाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + विद् (प्रातिपदिक: विद्-शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• महिम्ना: by (its) greatness
• महिम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• तुल्यम्: equal
• तुल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• मूल्यम्: value/price
• मूल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• उदितम्: declared
• उदितम्: Kriya-vishesana (Predicative/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (stated/declared)

• तुलितस्य: of the weighed (gem)
• तुलितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; (of the weighed/compared)

• कार्यम्: should be done/required
• कार्यम्: Kriya (Injunctive sense/क्रिया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय (what is to be done)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa and parīkṣā: a gem’s worth is established through examination of lakṣaṇa (color/form) and expert appraisal, not mere claim or appearance.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) and pramāṇa-niṣṭhā: truth is determined by valid means and competent testimony.

Application: Before adopting a gem as remedy or ornament, verify authenticity and quality through knowledgeable experts; align purchase/value with tested criteria.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.75 (ratna-parīkṣā, doṣa-guṇa); Garuda Purana 1.76 (ākara and origin narratives for gems)

Characters & Entities

• Karketana (hessonite/gomedaka)
• Shastravids (learned authorities)

FAQs

What is the importance of testing (parīkṣā) gemstones in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that a gem’s worth depends on verification of authentic characteristics (true color/form and radiant luster) and on śāstra-grounded expert appraisal, not mere appearance or hearsay.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it teaches a dharmic principle of discernment—proper testing and reliance on śāstric expertise—within the text’s broader instruction on right conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before buying or using a gemstone for religious, astrological, or personal purposes, verify authenticity through objective testing and qualified expertise rather than marketing claims—aligning purchase decisions with disciplined discernment (parīkṣā).