Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

अन्यत्र जातं च न तत्प्रधानं मूल्यं भवेच्छिल्पिविशेषयोगात् / प्रसन्नं कोमलं स्निग्धं सुरागं विद्रुमं हि तत्

Transliteration

anyatra jātaṃ ca na tatpradhānaṃ mūlyaṃ bhavecchilpiviśeṣayogāt / prasannaṃ komalaṃ snigdhaṃ surāgaṃ vidrumaṃ hi tat

Translation

If produced elsewhere, it does not attain the foremost value—its worth depends on the particular excellence of craftsmanship. Truly, genuine coral (vidruma) is clear, tender, lustrous, and richly colored.

Word by Word

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

• जातम्: born/produced
• जातम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त-भूतकृत)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshya (Head-qualified/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg pronoun)

• प्रधानम्: chief/superior
• प्रधानम्: Pratishedhya/Upapada (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• मूल्यम्: value/price
• मूल्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg optative)

• शिल्पिविशेषयोगात्: due to the artisan’s special skill/association
• शिल्पिविशेषयोगात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्पिन् + विशेष + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिल्पिनः विशेषः + योगः; तस्मात्) (ablative singular)

• प्रसन्नम्: clear/bright
• प्रसन्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• कोमलम्: soft
• कोमलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• स्निग्धम्: smooth/oily
• स्निग्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (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) (neuter nom/acc sg)

• विद्रुमम्: coral
• विद्रुमम्: Visheshya (Head-qualified/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

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

• तत्: that (is)
• तत्: Anuvada (Anaphoric/अनुवाद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg pronoun)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Value arises from both origin and saṃskāra (expert workmanship); true specimens have recognizable lakṣaṇas (clarity, softness, unctuous luster, rich color).

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and pramāṇa-by-lakṣaṇa: knowing by characteristics; the ‘best’ is known through stable marks, not mere claim.

Application: In gem selection, verify provenance and workmanship; prefer specimens meeting clear criteria (prasanna, komala, snigdha, surāga).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.79.3 on refinement by a skilled artisan increasing value; Garuda Purana 1.80.4 on testing methods for gems

FAQs

What is the importance of vidruma (coral) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats coral as a valued, auspicious substance whose merit and price depend on authentic qualities (clarity, softness, luster, and good color) and proper expert assessment.

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

In the Ācāra Kāṇḍa, the text often links material selection (gems, substances, donations) with correctness and auspiciousness; here it emphasizes discerning genuine quality rather than relying on mere origin or appearance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When choosing items for worship, donation, or personal use, prioritize authenticity and tested quality—seek knowledgeable expertise and look for clear signs (luster, color, integrity) rather than marketing or provenance claims.