Shloka 5

Devanagari script

एकप्रकारा विस्पष्टवर्णशोभावभासिनः / जायन्ते मणयस्तस्मिन्निन्द्रनीला महागुणाः

Transliteration

ekaprakārā vispaṣṭavarṇaśobhāvabhāsinaḥ / jāyante maṇayastasminnindranīlā mahāguṇāḥ

Translation

അവിടെ ഒരേ തരത്തിലുള്ള മണികൾ ജനിക്കുന്നു; വ്യക്തമായ വർണശോഭയോടെ ദീപ്തമായി പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നു. അവിടെ മഹാഗുണസമ്പന്നമായ ഇന്ദ്രനീല മണികൾ (നീലമണി) ഉത്ഭവിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• एकप्रकाराः: of one kind
• एकप्रकाराः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन — nominative plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (एकः प्रकारः येषां)

• विस्पष्ट: distinct/clear
• विस्पष्ट: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्पष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — genitive plural (qualifying वर्ण-शोभा)

• वर्ण: color
• वर्ण: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — genitive plural (in compound sense)

• शोभा: beauty/splendor
• शोभा: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — genitive singular (in compound sense)

• अवभासिनः: shining
• अवभासिनः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवभासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन — nominative plural

• जायन्ते: are born/arise
• जायन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम् — present, 3rd person plural, middle

• मणयः: gems
• मणयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन — nominative plural

• तस्मिन्: in that (place/source)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — locative singular

• इन्द्रनीलाः: sapphires (indranīla gems)
• इन्द्रनीलाः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन — nominative plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रनील-नामक मणयः)

• महागुणाः: of great qualities
• महागुणाः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन — nominative plural; समासः कर्मधारय (महान्तः गुणाः येषां)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa (defining marks): true excellence is recognized by manifest, unambiguous qualities.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-prādhānya as clarity/brightness; guṇa as knowable indicators within prakṛti.

Application: Prefer what is ‘vispaṣṭa’ (clear, well-defined) in judgment—whether in objects (gems) or decisions (avoid ambiguity).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: deposit/source-region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.72 (indranīla description sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of indranīla (sapphire) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights indranīla as a superior gem—distinct in color and brilliance—used in Purāṇic cosmological descriptions to indicate the richness and ordered beauty of a sacred region.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey directly; instead, it contributes to the Garuda Purana’s broader mapping of worlds/regions, which later supports teachings about where beings go according to karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat material beauty and wealth as part of cosmic order, but not as ultimate; cultivate discernment—appreciating qualities without attachment.