Shloka 16

Marakata (Emerald): Mythic Origin, Anti-Poison Virtue, Qualities, Defects, and Proper Wearing

Devanagari script

वर्णस्याति विभुत्वाद्यस्यान्तः स्वच्छकिरणपरिधानम् / सान्द्रस्निग्धविशुद्धं कोमलबर्हिप्रभादिसमकान्ति

Transliteration

varṇasyāti vibhutvādyasyāntaḥ svacchakiraṇaparidhānam / sāndrasnigdhaviśuddhaṃ komalabarhiprabhādisamakānti

Translation

അതിന്റെ വർണ്ണം അത്യന്തം വൈഭവമുള്ളത്; ഉള്ളിൽ സ്വച്ഛകിരണങ്ങളുടെ ആവരണം. അത് സാന്ദ്രവും സ്നിഗ്ധവും വിശുദ്ധവും—അതിന്റെ കാന്തി കോമള മയൂരപിഞ്ചിന്റെ പ്രഭയോടു സമം.

Word by Word

• वर्णस्य: of the color
• वर्णस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अति: excessively, very
• अति: Viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; तीव्रतावाचक (intensifier)

• विभुत्वात्: from pervasiveness/abundance
• विभुत्वात्: Apādāna (Cause-from/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• अन्तः: within
• अन्तः: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (within)

• स्वच्छ: clear, pure
• स्वच्छ: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (स्वच्छ-किरण-परिधानम्)

• किरण: ray
• किरण: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (…किरण-परिधानम्)

• परिधानम्: covering, clothing
• परिधानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासोत्तरपद (स्वच्छकिरणपरिधानम्)

• सान्द्र: dense, intense
• सान्द्र: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (सान्द्र-स्निग्ध-विशुद्धम्)

• स्निग्ध: smooth, glossy
• स्निग्ध: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (…स्निग्ध-विशुद्धम्)

• विशुद्धम्: very pure, spotless
• विशुद्धम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासोत्तरपद (सान्द्रस्निग्धविशुद्धम्)

• कोमल: soft, delicate
• कोमल: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (कोमल-बर्हि-प्रभा-आदि-सम-कान्ति)

• बर्हि: peacock feather
• बर्हि: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिन्/बर्हि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद; ‘बर्हि’ = मयूरपिच्छ (peacock feather)

• प्रभा: splendor, glow
• प्रभा: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (…प्रभा-आदि-…)

• आदि: and so on, etc.
• आदि: Sambandha (Etc.-marker/आद्यार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘आदि’ = ‘and the like’ (etc.)

• सम: equal, similar
• सम: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (…सम-कान्ति)

• कान्ति: luster, beauty
• कान्ति: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासोत्तरपद (…समकान्ति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purity and clarity (viśuddhi, svaccha-kiraṇa) as criteria of excellence; inner structure (‘garment of rays’) indicates true quality.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-viśuddhi: inner clarity manifests as luminous transparency; beauty as a pointer to harmony/order rather than mere ornament.

Application: Seek ‘clear-ray’ qualities in choices—transparency, purity, consistency; prefer what is dense in value yet clear in intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.71 (marakata-lakshana: varna, prabhā, snigdhatā, viśuddhi)

FAQs

What is the importance of divine radiance described in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses imagery of clear rays and spotless brilliance to indicate a state of perfect purity and exalted spiritual presence—radiance here functions as a mark of sattvic, untainted being.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing purity and inner luminosity, the verse indirectly points to the soul’s upliftment through purification—spiritual refinement is portrayed as producing clarity and radiance rather than heaviness or obscuration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate inner cleanliness and sattvic conduct—truthfulness, restraint, and devotional remembrance—so the mind becomes ‘clear’ (svaccha) and steady, reflecting higher awareness.