Shloka 1

Vaidūrya (Cat’s-eye) Examination: Origin, Auspicious Marks, Imitations, and Valuation Measures

Devanagari script

नाम द्विसप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / वैदूर्यपुष्परागाणां कर्केते भीष्मके वदे / परीक्षां ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तां व्यासेन कथितां द्विजा

Transliteration

nāma dvisaptatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / vaidūryapuṣparāgāṇāṃ karkete bhīṣmake vade / parīkṣāṃ brahmaṇā proktāṃ vyāsena kathitāṃ dvijā

Translation

Sūta berkata: “Inilah bab yang bernama bab ketujuh puluh dua. Wahai para dwija (yang dua kali lahir), perihal pemeriksaan tentang vaidūrya dan puṣparāga—dalam rangka kisah Karketa dan Bhīṣmaka—mula-mula diajarkan oleh Brahmā dan kemudian diceritakan oleh Vyāsa.”

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Sambandha (Title marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/marker), ‘named/entitled’ इत्यर्थे

• द्विसप्ततितमः: seventy-second
• द्विसप्ततितमः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + सप्तति + तम (प्रातिपदिक; समास/तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); क्रमवाचक (ordinal) = seventy-second

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Speaker/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• वैदूर्यपुष्परागाणाम्: of cat’s-eye and topaz
• वैदूर्यपुष्परागाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदूर्य + पुष्पराग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); वैदूर्य-च पुष्पराग-च (two gems)

• कर्केते: in Karkaṭa (Cancer sign)
• कर्केते: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्केट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भीष्मके: in Bhīṣmaka
• भीष्मके: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वदे: I speak/tell
• वदे: Kriya (Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• परीक्षाम्: examination/testing
• परीक्षाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रोक्ताम्: spoken/declared
• प्रोक्ताम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यासेन: by Vyāsa
• व्यासेन: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथिताम्: told/narrated
• कथिताम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra-prāmāṇya through paramparā: knowledge is validated by lineage and careful transmission.

Vedantic Theme: Guru-śiṣya/paramparā as a vehicle for reliable knowledge in vyavahāra and dharma.

Application: Approach gemology as a disciplined śāstra: learn tests and classifications from authoritative sources, not mere conjecture.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: region/kingdom-context (narrative setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.73 (vaidūrya, puṣparāga examinations); Garuda Purana 1.72 (preceding gem section: nīla/indranīla etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Brahmā
• Vyāsa
• Karketa
• Bhīṣmaka
• Dwijas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in Garuda Purana?

It functions as an opening/colophon-style announcement: Sūta introduces the chapter number and frames the teaching as originating with Brahmā and transmitted by Vyāsa, establishing textual authority.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s journey; it is a chapter-introduction verse that sets up the source and subject matter of the forthcoming discussion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to study tradition with attention to lineage and context—checking sources and understanding who teaches what before applying teachings in practice.