Shloka 21

The Examination of Pearls and Padmarāga (Ruby): Origins, Marks, Defects, and Valuation

Devanagari script

कलशपुरोद्भवसिंहलतुम्बुरुदेशोत्थमुक्तपाणीयाः / श्रीपूर्णकाश्च सदृशा विजातयः पद्मरागाणाम्

Transliteration

kalaśapurodbhavasiṃhalatumburudeśotthamuktapāṇīyāḥ / śrīpūrṇakāśca sadṛśā vijātayaḥ padmarāgāṇām

Translation

On dit que ces rubis sont du type Padmarāga lorsqu’ils proviennent de Kalaśapura, de Siṃhala et de la région de Tumburu, et qu’ils sont luisants, pleins de splendeur, semblables au rubis authentique bien qu’ils relèvent de sous-variétés distinctes.

Word by Word

• कलशपुरोद्भवसिंहलतुम्बुरुदेशोत्थमुक्तपाणीयाः: (Pearls) originating from Kalaśapura and from the Siṃhala–Tumburu region; of ‘pānīya’ type
• कलशपुरोद्भवसिंहलतुम्बुरुदेशोत्थमुक्तपाणीयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलशपुर-उद्भव-सींहल-तुम्बुरु-देश-उत्थ-मुक्त-पानीय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—(मुक्ताः) ‘कलशपुरोद्भवाः, सींहल-तुम्बुरु-देशोत्थाः’ इति देशोत्पत्तिनिर्देशः; ‘पानीय’ इति उपाधि/प्रयोगविशेषः

• श्रीपूर्णकाः: Śrīpūrṇaka (a variety/name)
• श्रीपूर्णकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीपूर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘श्री’ (कान्ति/शोभा) + ‘पूर्णक’ (पूर्णत्वयुक्त)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सदृशाः: similar
• सदृशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• विजातयः: of different kinds/species
• विजातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘भिन्नजातयः’ इत्यर्थे

• पद्मरागाणाम्: of rubies (padmarāga)
• पद्मरागाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa by lakṣaṇa: true appraisal depends on origin and observable qualities (lustre, fullness), even within sub-varieties.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) between nāma-rūpa classifications and underlying guṇa (qualities).

Application: In any evaluation—objects or people—use clear criteria (source, consistent qualities) rather than mere resemblance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city/region/island-region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70 (Ratna-parīkṣā context: padmarāga-bheda, lakṣaṇa, deśa-utpatti)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Padmarāga (ruby) descriptions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional ratna (gem) taxonomy—linking a gem’s authenticity and value to origin and observable qualities like clarity and splendor.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it appears in a descriptive section on material classifications (ratna-lakṣaṇa), which can be used in ritual and auspicious contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional checklist for evaluating rubies: provenance (region of origin) plus visible traits like clarity and luster, especially when selecting gems for customary/ritual purposes.