Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

न च मार्गविभागमात्रवृत्त्या विदुषा वज्रपरिग्रहो विधेयः / गुणवद्गुणसम्पदां विभूतिर्विपरीतो व्यसनोदयस्य हेतुः

Transliteration

na ca mārgavibhāgamātravṛttyā viduṣā vajraparigraho vidheyaḥ / guṇavadguṇasampadāṃ vibhūtirviparīto vyasanodayasya hetuḥ

Translation

फक्त मार्ग व त्याच्या उपविभागांचे काटेकोर विभाजन यावरून विद्वानाने कठोर हट्ट (वज्रग्रह) धरू नये. गुणवान पुरुषाची गुणसम्पदा हीच त्याची खरी विभूती; याच्या उलट वृत्ती आपत्तीच्या उदयाचे कारण ठरते.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Discourse connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• mārga-vibhāga-mātra-vṛttyā: by mere division of paths/ways (only by external classification)
• mārga-vibhāga-mātra-vṛttyā: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga + vibhāga + mātra + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘केवल-मार्गविभाग’ इत्यर्थे

• viduṣā: by a wise man
• viduṣā: Karana/Agent-instrument (by the wise person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vajra-parigrahaḥ: acceptance/adoption of the vajra-status
• vajra-parigrahaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vidheyaḥ: should be prescribed/done
• vidheyaḥ: Karta/Predicate (predicate necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—विधेय (gerundive/तव्यत्-अर्थे), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be prescribed’

• guṇavat: with merit / properly qualified
• guṇavat: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (here adverbially qualifying)

• guṇa-sampadām: of those possessing virtues/attainments
• guṇa-sampadām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa + sampad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vibhūtiḥ: prosperity/splendor
• vibhūtiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• viparītaḥ: opposite/contrary
• viparītaḥ: Karta/Predicate adjective (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• vyasana-udayasya: of the arising of calamity/misfortune
• vyasana-udayasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyasana + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• hetuḥ: cause
• hetuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not adopt adamantine obstinacy based on mere path-subdivision; true eminence is the flourishing of virtues; contrariness breeds calamity.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-guṇa as the basis of clarity and harmony; viveka (discernment) over ahaṅkāra-driven rigidity; ethics as preparation for higher knowledge.

Application: Avoid dogmatism and factionalism; evaluate teachings by the virtues they cultivate (truthfulness, compassion, self-control) and by outcomes in conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.24-25 (role, saṅkara, and consequences)

FAQs

What is the importance of virtue (guṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prioritizes inner virtues as the real source of excellence, warning that a contrary, rigid disposition leads to misfortune.

How does this verse relate to choosing a spiritual path?

It cautions against becoming obstinate by merely categorizing or arguing over path-divisions; wisdom is shown through humility and virtue rather than rigid debate.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid dogmatic arguments over labels and methods; cultivate character—patience, discernment, and compassion—since virtue protects life from avoidable troubles.