Shloka 11

मुक्ता-उत्पत्ति-भेदाः, मूल्य-मान-निर्णयः, शोधन-परीक्षा-लक्षणानि

Pearl Sources, Valuation, Refinement, and Identification

Devanagari script

नितान्तधौतप्रविकल्पमाननिस्त्रिंशधारासमवर्णकान्ति / प्राप्यातिरत्नानि महाप्रभाणि राज्यं श्रियं वा महतीं दुरापाम्

Transliteration

nitāntadhautapravikalpamānanistriṃśadhārāsamavarṇakānti / prāpyātiratnāni mahāprabhāṇi rājyaṃ śriyaṃ vā mahatīṃ durāpām

Translation

Cahayanya bagaikan kilau mata pedang—disucikan sepenuhnya dan digilap dengan gemilang. Dengannya, seseorang memperoleh permata yang amat indah lagi bercahaya besar, bahkan kedaulatan atau kemakmuran luas yang sukar dicapai.

Word by Word

• नितान्तधौतप्रविकल्पमाननिस्त्रिंशधारासमवर्णकान्ति: having luster like a sword-edge, extremely polished and finely fashioned, of uniform color
• नितान्तधौतप्रविकल्पमाननिस्त्रिंशधारासमवर्णकान्ति: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitānta + dhauta (कृदन्त; √dhāv (धातु) + क्त) + pravikalpamāna (कृदन्त; pra-vi-√kḷp (धातु) + शानच्) + nistriṃśa + dhārā + sama + varṇa + kānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (श्रियं—अनुक्तम्)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√āp (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (gerund): ‘having obtained’

• अतिरत्नानि: excellent/superior gems
• अतिरत्नानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• महाप्रभाणि: of great radiance
• महाप्रभाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (अतिरत्नानि)

• राज्यम्: kingdom/sovereignty
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• श्रियम्: fortune/prosperity
• श्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle)

• महतīm: great
• महतīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (श्रियं)

• दुरापाम्: hard to obtain
• दुरापाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + āpa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √āp (धातु) + खल्/णिनि-भावः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (श्रियं)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification and refinement (like a polished blade) correlate with increased efficacy and attainment of difficult goals.

Vedantic Theme: Tejas as a sattvic power: inner/outer śuddhi enhances capacity (śakti) and results (phala).

Application: Pursue disciplined purification—ethical conduct, cleanliness, and focused effort—before seeking high aims (wealth, leadership, influence).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.69.12 (puṇya, tejas, auspicious acquisition); Garuda Purana 1.69.13-14 (rakṣā-vidhāna and protection)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (prosperity/fortune)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse’s ‘sword-edge radiance’ imagery in the Garuda Purana?

It conveys a state of purified brilliance—like a perfectly polished blade—used here to describe the powerful, refined fruit of dharmic merit that yields exceptional splendor and success.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on outcomes of karma?

It presents a karmic result framework: refined purity and merit lead to tangible and exalted outcomes—jewels, sovereignty, and great prosperity—showing that righteous causes can manifest as rare worldly attainments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate ‘polished’ conduct—truthfulness, restraint, generosity, and disciplined living—so that one’s work and character become steady and luminous, supporting both ethical prosperity and inner clarity.