Shloka 17

Devanagari script

यस्य मध्यगता भाति नीलस्येन्द्रायुधप्रभा / तमिन्द्रनीलमित्याहुर्महार्हं भुवि दुर्लभम्

Transliteration

yasya madhyagatā bhāti nīlasyendrāyudhaprabhā / tamindranīlamityāhurmahārhaṃ bhuvi durlabham

Translation

Permata biru yang di tengahnya bersinar cahaya laksana senjata Indra (indra-yudha) itulah yang disebut Indranīla (safir); amat mahal nilainya dan sangat jarang di bumi.

Word by Word

• यस्य: of which/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम

• मध्य-गता: situated in the middle
• मध्य-गता: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त from गम्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP ‘गत’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘मध्यं गता’ = ‘having gone to/located in the middle’)

• भाति: shines/appears
• भाति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नीलस्य: of the blue (stone)
• नीलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• इन्द्रायुध-प्रभा: the radiance of a rainbow
• इन्द्रायुध-प्रभा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रायुध (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रायुधस्य प्रभा = ‘rainbow-like lustre’)

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इन्द्रनीलम्: indranīla (sapphire)
• इन्द्रनीलम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रनील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आहुः: they say/call
• आहुः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• महा-अर्हम्: very precious
• महा-अर्हम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘महान् अर्हः’ = very valuable)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक ‘भुव्/भू’ = पृथ्वी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• दुर्लभम्: rare/hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra, as typical for Garuda Purana narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa of true indranīla: central vajra-like brilliance (indrāyudha-prabhā) as defining mark; value grounded in intrinsic sign.

Vedantic Theme: Inner light as criterion: the ‘center’ (madhya) radiance metaphorically echoes the primacy of inner essence over outer form.

Application: Authenticate sapphire by checking for characteristic internal brilliance; treat rare valuables with ethical stewardship and avoid fraud.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: earthly domain of acquisition (mines/treasuries implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.72: indranīla definitions and valuation criteria (contextual continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Indrāyudha (Vajra)

FAQs

What is the importance of Indranīla in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Indranīla (sapphire) by a key identifying mark—an Indra’s-vajra-like brilliance at its center—and emphasizes its rarity and high value.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey; it belongs to a descriptive section on valuable substances (ratnas), focusing on identification and worth rather than afterlife doctrine.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a traditional identification guideline: genuine value is tied to clear defining qualities, not mere appearance—apply this discernment in ethical purchasing and appraisal.