Shloka 12

Indranīla (Blue Sapphire): Source-Myth, Grades, Tests, Substitutes, and Price

Devanagari script

तथापि न परीक्षार्थं गुणानामभि (ति) वृद्धये / मणिरग्नौ समाधेयः कथञ्चिदपि कश्चन

Transliteration

tathāpi na parīkṣārthaṃ guṇānāmabhi (ti) vṛddhaye / maṇiragnau samādheyaḥ kathañcidapi kaścana

Translation

എങ്കിലും, പരീക്ഷയ്ക്കായിട്ടോ ഗുണവർദ്ധനയ്ക്കായിട്ടോ—എന്തുവിധേനയും ആരും മണിയെ അഗ്നിയിൽ വെക്കരുത്।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• अपि: even so
• अपि: Sambandha (Concessive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अपि-अर्थ (even/though)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• परीक्षार्थम्: for testing
• परीक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे प्रयुक्तः (parīkṣāyāḥ artham = for the sake of examination)

• गुणानाम्: of qualities
• गुणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अभिवृद्धये: for increase
• अभिवृद्धये: Sampradana (Beneficiary/Goal/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); उपसर्गपूर्वक-भावनाम (for increase)

• मणिः: a gem
• मणिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अग्नौ: in fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• समाधेयः: should be placed
• समाधेयः: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: समाधेय (कृदन्त; सम्+आ+√धा धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); अर्थः 'स्थापनीयः/निक्षेपणीयः'

• कथञ्चित्: somehow
• कथञ्चित्: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: somehow/under any circumstances)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि-अर्थ (even)

• कश्चन: any (person)
• कश्चन: Karta (Agent implied/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चन (निपात)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun: 'anyone/any')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prudential restraint (anarthā-nivṛtti): do not risk harm to valuables through misguided testing or attempts to ‘increase’ qualities.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka in action: discriminate between legitimate means and harmful experimentation; avoid rāga-driven ‘improvement’ impulses that cause loss.

Application: Do not heat gemstones in fire for amateur testing or ‘charging’; use safer, traditional/modern non-destructive evaluation methods and preserve resources.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.72.12 (prohibition against placing gems in fire)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding unnecessary tests in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that even a valuable thing should not be subjected to needless harm merely to test it or to ‘improve’ it—Dharma favors restraint and non-injury over reckless experimentation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

Indirectly, it supports the broader Purana ethic that actions have consequences: avoid purposeless, harmful acts, since such impulses strengthen negative tendencies that bind the soul rather than purify it.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not provoke avoidable risk—whether in relationships, speech, or spiritual practice—just to ‘see what happens’; protect what is precious (character, trust, life) through prudent restraint.