Shloka 31

मुक्ता-उत्पत्ति-भेदाः, मूल्य-मान-निर्णयः, शोधन-परीक्षा-लक्षणानि

Pearl Sources, Valuation, Refinement, and Identification

Devanagari script

द्विगुणैर्दशभिर्भवेदनूनं धरणं तद्भवकं वदन्ति तज्ज्ञाः / नवसप्ततिमाप्नुयात्स्वमूल्यं यदि न स्याद्गुणसम्पदा विहीनम्

Transliteration

dviguṇairdaśabhirbhavedanūnaṃ dharaṇaṃ tadbhavakaṃ vadanti tajjñāḥ / navasaptatimāpnuyātsvamūlyaṃ yadi na syādguṇasampadā vihīnam

Translation

Los sabios dicen que un “dharaṇa” (medida prescrita) no es menor que veinte por diez (doscientos), y se afirma que produce su efecto correspondiente. Alcanzaría un valor de setenta y nueve de sus propias unidades, con tal de no carecer de la riqueza de buenas cualidades (pureza/idoneidad).

Word by Word

• dviguṇaiḥ: by double (twofold)
• dviguṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वक), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• daśabhiḥ: by ten
• daśabhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (numeral), तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• bhavet: would be
• bhavet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• anūnam: full, not deficient
• anūnam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• dharaṇam: dharaṇa (weight)
• dharaṇam: Karma/Pratipādya (Object/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tat-bhavakam: called ‘tadbhavaka’
• tat-bhavakam: Karma (Object-complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhavaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• vadanti: say, call
• vadanti: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• tat-jñāḥ: those who know (experts)
• tat-jñāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘तत्-ज्ञ’ = ‘knowing that’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• nava-saptatim: seventy-nine
• nava-saptatim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + saptati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संख्यावाचक), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• āpnuyāt: would obtain
• āpnuyāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sva-mūlyam: its own price/value
• sva-mūlyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + mūlya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘स्वं मूल्यम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तार्थक (conditional)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• guṇa-sampadā: with excellence/virtue-wealth
• guṇa-sampadā: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• vihīnam: devoid (of)
• vihīnam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Quantity alone is insufficient; value depends on guṇa-sampad (fitness/purity/quality).

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa as determinant within prakṛti; discernment between nāma-rūpa (mere count) and substantive worth (guṇa).

Application: Assess both measure and quality (purity, workmanship); establish standards for grading and pricing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.69.30; Garuda Purana 1.69.32

FAQs

What is the importance of guṇa-sampad (good qualities/purity) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse stresses that the full ‘value’ or fruit of a prescribed standard is realized only when it is not lacking in guṇa—i.e., when the rite/offering is fit, pure, and properly qualified.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, ritual acts meant to aid the departed are effective in proportion to their correctness and purity; the verse frames efficacy as dependent on proper measure and qualifying guṇas.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha, dāna, or related rites, prioritize correctness, cleanliness, sincerity, and ethical conduct—because the ‘result’ depends not only on the act but on its qualifying qualities.