Shloka 9

Vaidūrya (Cat’s-eye) Examination: Origin, Auspicious Marks, Imitations, and Valuation Measures

Devanagari script

गिरिकाचशिशुपालौ काच स्फटिकाश्च धूमनिर्भिन्नाः / वैदूर्यमणेरेते विजातयः सन्निभाः सन्ति

Transliteration

girikācaśiśupālau kāca sphaṭikāśca dhūmanirbhinnāḥ / vaidūryamaṇerete vijātayaḥ sannibhāḥ santi

Translation

ગિરિકાચ, શિશુપાલ જેવી ફીકી કાંતિ, સામાન્ય કાચ અને ધુમાડાથી મલિન સ્ફટિક—આ બધાં વૈદૂર્ય મણિ (માર્જારનેત્ર) જેવા જણાય છે, પરંતુ ભિન્ન જાતિના હીન પ્રતિરૂપ છે।

Word by Word

• गिरिकाचशिशुपालौ: (the two:) mountain-glass and śiśupāla (a glass variety)
• गिरिकाचशिशुपालौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिकाच + शिशुपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (गिरिकाचः च शिशुपालः च)

• काच: glass
• काच: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्फटिकाः: crystals
• स्फटिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

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

• धूमनिर्भिन्नाः: smoke-stained / smoke-tinged
• धूमनिर्भिन्नाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम + निर्भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद् (धातु) + नि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• वैदूर्यमणेः: of the vaidūrya gem (cat’s-eye)
• वैदूर्यमणेः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदूर्य + मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (वैदूर्यस्य मणिः)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विजातयः: inferior/other varieties (non-genuine kinds)
• विजातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सन्निभाः: similar (in appearance)
• सन्निभाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सन्ति: are
• सन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka (discrimination) between genuine and counterfeit based on kind (jāti) and marks (liṅga).

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-khyāti; distinguishing appearance (rūpa) from underlying reality (tattva).

Application: When assessing valuables or claims, test for authentic characteristics rather than relying on superficial similarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.73 (ratna-lakshana/vaidurya-pariksha context); Garuda Purana 1.72–1.74 (gem classification and valuation passages)

FAQs

What is the importance of vaidūrya (cat’s-eye) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that vaidūrya has specific identifying traits and that many common materials can mimic its appearance; correct identification is essential when using gems for auspicious purposes.

How does this verse guide the selection of gemstones?

It warns that quartz-like mountain glass, ordinary glass, and smoky/clouded crystal can resemble vaidūrya, so one should avoid confusing look-alikes with the true gem.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When purchasing or wearing cat’s-eye for traditional purposes, verify authenticity (reputable source/testing) and avoid stones that are merely visually similar, such as glass or smoky crystal.