Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

प्रकटानेकदोषस्य स्वल्पस्य महतो ऽपि वा / स्व (सु) मूल्याच्छतशो भागो वज्रस्य न विधीयते

Transliteration

prakaṭānekadoṣasya svalpasya mahato 'pi vā / sva (su) mūlyācchataśo bhāgo vajrasya na vidhīyate

Translation

വജ്രം ചെറുതായാലും വലുതായാലും, അതിൽ പല വ്യക്തമായ ദോഷങ്ങൾ പ്രകടമെങ്കിൽ, യഥാർത്ഥ മൂല്യത്തിന്റെ നൂറിലൊന്നും പോലും നിശ്ചയിക്കപ്പെടുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• prakaṭa-aneka-doṣasya: of (a diamond) having many manifest defects
• prakaṭa-aneka-doṣasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + aneka (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (प्रकटाः अनेकाः दोषाः यस्य) — विशेषणरूपेण

• svalpasya: of a small (one)
• svalpasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• mahataḥ: of a large (one)
• mahataḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-शब्दः (even particle)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• su-mūlyāt: from the good/high value
• su-mūlyāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mūlya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सु + मूल्य)

• chataśaḥ: by hundreds
• chataśaḥ: Sambandha (Measure/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: chataśas (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/वितरणार्थक-अव्यय (by hundreds; distributive adverb)

• bhāgaḥ: a portion/share
• bhāgaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• vajrasya: of the diamond
• vajrasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• vidhīyate: is assigned/is made
• vidhīyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (is allotted/assigned)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bahudoṣa (many defects) nullifies worth regardless of magnitude; quality overrides quantity/size.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-prādhānya (primacy of qualities) over mere extension (mātra); discernment in attachment to ‘big’ things.

Application: Do not overvalue something because it is large/impressive; apply consistent quality criteria.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.40-41 (valuation collapse; alternative use)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'flawed diamond' example in Garuda Purana?

It teaches that openly repeated defects (doṣa) drastically diminish a person’s or act’s spiritual and social value, just as flaws reduce a diamond’s worth.

How does this verse relate to karma and dharma in Garuda Purana?

The verse emphasizes that dharmic life depends on integrity and freedom from evident faults; visible misconduct undermines merit and weakens the fruits of good deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate consistent conduct—reduce recurring, visible habits like dishonesty or cruelty—because persistent defects can negate the respect and benefit earned by otherwise good qualities.