Shloka 2

Vidruma (Coral): Origin, Color-Types, Qualities, and the Introduction to Testing Pulaka, Rudhirākṣa, Sphaṭika, and Vidruma

Devanagari script

तत्र प्रधानं शशलोहिताभं गुञ्जाजपापुष्पनिभं प्रदिष्टम् / सुनीलकं देवकरोमकञ्च स्थानानि तेषु प्रभवं सुरागम्

Transliteration

tatra pradhānaṃ śaśalohitābhaṃ guñjājapāpuṣpanibhaṃ pradiṣṭam / sunīlakaṃ devakaromakañca sthānāni teṣu prabhavaṃ surāgam

Translation

There, the foremost region is described as hare’s-blood red, resembling the blossoms of guñjā and japā. Other places are said to be deep blue, and some like the hair of the gods; among them, the source of origin is declared richly colored and radiant.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• प्रधानम्: the chief (one)
• प्रधानम्: Visheshya (Head-qualified/विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• शशलोहिताभम्: having a hare-blood-red hue
• शशलोहिताभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शश + लोहित + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शशस्य लोहित इव आभा यस्य) (neuter nom/acc sg)

• गुञ्जाजपापुष्पनिभम्: like guñjā/japā flowers
• गुञ्जाजपापुष्पनिभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुञ्जा + जपा + पुष्प + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (गुञ्जा-जपा-पुष्पवत्) (neuter nom/acc sg)

• प्रदिष्टम्: is declared
• प्रदिष्टम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दिश् (धातु) → प्रदिष्ट (कृदन्त-भूतकृत)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयभावे (stated/declared)

• सुनीलकम्: very blue
• सुनीलकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + नीलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु-नीलकम् = अतिनीलम्) (neuter nom/acc sg)

• देवकरोमकम्: devakaromaka (a variety/name)
• देवकरोमकम्: Visheshya (Head-qualified/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवक + रोमक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (देवकस्य रोमकः) (neuter nom/acc sg)

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

• स्थानानि: places/locations
• स्थानानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter nom/acc pl)

• तेषु: among them/in those
• तेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन (locative plural pronoun)

• प्रभवम्: origin/source
• प्रभवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + भू (धातु) → प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• सुरागम्: beautifully colored
• सुरागम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु-रागम् = उत्तमवर्णम्/सु-रक्तम्) (neuter nom/acc sg)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa (defining marks) such as color and luster establish hierarchy and authenticity among gems.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) applied to the material world; recognition of nāma-rūpa distinctions without losing sense of underlying order.

Application: Use observable markers (hue, saturation, radiance) to classify and select coral; document provenance and varietal traits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mountain/local deposits

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.80.3 on value depending on craftsmanship and ideal qualities; Garuda Purana 1.80.4 on testing and benefits of gems

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse uses precise color-similes (guñjā, japā, deep blue) to map the subtle geography of the afterlife, helping the listener visualize distinct regions (sthānāni) and their qualities.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda narrative, such descriptions frame the environment the departed encounters in the post-death journey—indicating differentiated stations/regions that the soul may pass through according to karmic conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the afterlife descriptions as a reminder to live ethically and perform appropriate śrāddha/ritual duties, since the Purana links post-death experience with one’s conduct and prescribed rites.