Shloka 26

Ratna-parīkṣā: Vajra (Diamond/Thunderbolt) — Origin, Types, Testing, Defects, Weights, and Royal Auspiciousness

Devanagari script

न च मार्गविभागमात्रवृत्त्या विदुषा वज्रपरिग्रहो विधेयः / गुणवद्गुणसम्पदां विभूतिर्विपरीतो व्यसनोदयस्य हेतुः

Transliteration

na ca mārgavibhāgamātravṛttyā viduṣā vajraparigraho vidheyaḥ / guṇavadguṇasampadāṃ vibhūtirviparīto vyasanodayasya hetuḥ

Translation

Le sage ne doit pas non plus se saisir d’une dureté inflexible, «comme vajra», pour la seule raison de couper le ‘chemin’ et ses subdivisions en querelles de mots. Car la vraie grandeur réside dans le trésor des vertus chez l’homme vertueux; l’attitude inverse devient cause de l’essor du malheur.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• mārga-vibhāga-mātra-vṛttyā: by mere division of paths/ways (only by external classification)
• mārga-vibhāga-mātra-vṛttyā: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga + vibhāga + mātra + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘केवल-मार्गविभाग’ इत्यर्थे

• viduṣā: by a wise man
• viduṣā: Karana/Agent-instrument (by the wise person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vajra-parigrahaḥ: acceptance/adoption of the vajra-status
• vajra-parigrahaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vidheyaḥ: should be prescribed/done
• vidheyaḥ: Karta/Predicate (predicate necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—विधेय (gerundive/तव्यत्-अर्थे), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be prescribed’

• guṇavat: with merit / properly qualified
• guṇavat: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (here adverbially qualifying)

• guṇa-sampadām: of those possessing virtues/attainments
• guṇa-sampadām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa + sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vibhūtiḥ: prosperity/splendor
• vibhūtiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• viparītaḥ: opposite/contrary
• viparītaḥ: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• vyasana-udayasya: of the arising of calamity/misfortune
• vyasana-udayasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyasana + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• hetuḥ: cause
• hetuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not adopt adamantine obstinacy based on mere path-subdivision; true eminence is the flourishing of virtues; contrariness breeds calamity.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-guṇa as the basis of clarity and harmony; viveka (discernment) over ahaṅkāra-driven rigidity; ethics as preparation for higher knowledge.

Application: Avoid dogmatism and factionalism; evaluate teachings by the virtues they cultivate (truthfulness, compassion, self-control) and by outcomes in conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.24-25 (role, saṅkara, and consequences)

FAQs

What is the importance of virtue (guṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prioritizes inner virtues as the real source of excellence, warning that a contrary, rigid disposition leads to misfortune.

How does this verse relate to choosing a spiritual path?

It cautions against becoming obstinate by merely categorizing or arguing over path-divisions; wisdom is shown through humility and virtue rather than rigid debate.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid dogmatic arguments over labels and methods; cultivate character—patience, discernment, and compassion—since virtue protects life from avoidable troubles.