Shloka 38

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

Pearl Sources, Valuation, Refinement, and Identification

Devanagari script

श्वेतकाचसमं तारं हेमांशशतयोजितम् / रसमध्ये प्रधार्येत मौक्तिकं देहभूषणम्

Transliteration

śvetakācasamaṃ tāraṃ hemāṃśaśatayojitam / rasamadhye pradhāryeta mauktikaṃ dehabhūṣaṇam

Translation

Mutiara—berkilau seperti kristal putih, dihiasi dengan seratus benang (atau sinar) emas—hendaklah dirangkai dan dipakai di tengah dada sebagai perhiasan tubuh.

Word by Word

• śveta: white
• śveta: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• kāca: glass/crystal
• kāca: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• samam: similar/equal to
• samam: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of tāram)

• tāram: tāra (a mineral/ingredient)
• tāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• hema: gold
• hema: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• aṃśa: part/portion
• aṃśa: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• śata: hundred
• śata: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound; numeral)

• yojitam: mixed/combined
• yojitam: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle) ‘joined/mixed’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying tāram)

• rasa: liquid/juice
• rasa: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• madhye: in the middle/within
• madhye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• pradhāryeta: should be placed/held
• pradhāryeta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• mauktikam: pearl
• mauktikam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauktika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (subject of pradhāryeta)

• deha: body
• deha: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• bhūṣaṇam: body-ornament
• bhūṣaṇam: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (deha-bhūṣaṇa = ornament of the body)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious use of refined objects: wear properly prepared gems in appropriate placement.

Vedantic Theme: Outer order mirrors inner order; sattvic adornment supports composure and dignity (indirect).

Application: String the pearl securely with gold thread/setting; wear at mid-chest for balanced display and protection of the gem.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: personal adornment/body context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.69.35-37 (how the pearl is refined and polished); Garuda Purana 1.69.39 (regional practice and authenticity concerns)

FAQs

What is the importance of wearing a pearl (mauktika) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the pearl as an auspicious, refined ornament—meant to be properly set (with gold) and worn in a prescribed manner—reflecting dharmic standards of purity and decorum in daily life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to the Ācāra (conduct) teaching layer, emphasizing auspicious, disciplined living that supports spiritual steadiness and dharmic life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt mindful simplicity and propriety: choose symbols of purity and restraint, wear them respectfully (not for vanity), and treat external adornment as secondary to ethical conduct.