Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

बन्धू कगुञ्जासकलेन्द्रगोपजवासमासृक्समवर्णशोभाः / भ्राजिष्णवो दाडिमबीजवर्णास्तथापरे किशुकपुष्पभासः

Transliteration

bandhū kaguñjāsakalendragopajavāsamāsṛksamavarṇaśobhāḥ / bhrājiṣṇavo dāḍimabījavarṇāstathāpare kiśukapuṣpabhāsaḥ

Translation

कुछ रत्न बन्धूक-पुष्प, गुंजा-फल, इन्द्रगोप कीट, जवा (गुड़हल) और ताज़े रक्त के समान वर्ण-शोभा से दीप्त थे; कुछ अनार के दानों के रंग से चमकते थे, और कुछ अन्य किषुक-पुष्प की आभा से प्रकाशित थे।

Word by Word

• बन्धूक: bandhūka-colored (bandhūka)
• बन्धूक: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (अर्थतः—रत्न/वर्ण-प्रकाराः)

• गुञ्जा: guñjā (seed)
• गुञ्जा: Upamana/Descriptor (उपमान/निर्देशक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुञ्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (समास-पूर्वपद-रूपेण वर्ण-उदाहरणम्)

• सकल: entire/complete
• सकल: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• इन्द्रगोप: indragopa insect (red)
• इन्द्रगोप: Upamana/Descriptor (उपमान/निर्देशक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रगोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (वर्ण-उदाहरणम्)

• जव: hibiscus/japa flower
• जव: Upamana/Descriptor (उपमान/निर्देशक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (वर्ण-उदाहरणम्)

• आसृक्: blood
• आसृक्: Upamana/Descriptor (उपमान/निर्देशक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (रक्त/रुधिर-उदाहरणम्)

• समवर्णशोभाः: having beauty of uniform color
• समवर्णशोभाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + वर्ण + शोभा (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘समः वर्णः यस्य शोभा’/‘समवर्णा शोभा’); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• भ्राजिष्णवः: shining
• भ्राजिष्णवः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्राजिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• दाडिमबीजवर्णाः: pomegranate-seed colored
• दाडिमबीजवर्णाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दाडिम + बीज + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘दाडिमस्य बीजस्य वर्णः’); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); अर्थः—‘thus/likewise’

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम-स्वभावः (‘others’)

• किशुकपुष्पभासः: having the luster of kiśuka flowers
• किशुकपुष्पभासः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किशुक + पुष्प + भास (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘किशुकस्य पुष्पस्य भासः/भासा’); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perception (pratyakṣa) and upamāna (analogy) refine discernment—distinct entities recognized through characteristic color and luster.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa differentiation within prakṛti; the mind classifies appearances while the witness remains untouched.

Application: Train attention to notice subtle distinctions (viveka in observation); use beauty as a doorway to steadiness rather than craving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: riverbank/river vicinity

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70.6, 1.70.8-10 (same descriptive sequence of gem hues and radiance)

FAQs

What is the importance of color imagery in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses precise natural color-comparisons to describe different classes or conditions of beings, emphasizing how subtle states are portrayed through visible radiance and complexion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by depicting varied appearances and radiance, it supports the Garuda Purana theme that post-death or subtle conditions differ according to one’s state and destiny, even when described through symbolic visuals.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat scriptural descriptions as cues for inner cultivation: aim for purity of conduct and mind so one’s ‘inner radiance’ (tejas) is refined rather than agitated by passion and harm.