Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

कल्पान्तकालक्षुबिताम्बुराशेर्निर्ह्रादकल्पाद्दितिजस्य नादात् / वैदूर्यमुत्पन्नमनेकवर्णं शोभाभिरामद्युतिवर्णबीजम्

Transliteration

kalpāntakālakṣubitāmburāśernirhrādakalpādditijasya nādāt / vaidūryamutpannamanekavarṇaṃ śobhābhirāmadyutivarṇabījam

Translation

Dari lautan yang bergelora pada saat akhir kalpa, dan dari raungan laksana guruh—teriakan seorang Dānava—terbitlah vaidūrya (batu mata kucing), beraneka warna, menawan oleh sinarnya, seakan benih sumber bagi warna-warna yang gemilang.

Word by Word

• कल्पान्तकालक्षुबिताम्बुराशेः: of the ocean agitated at the end-time of the aeon
• कल्पान्तकालक्षुबिताम्बुराशेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पान्त + काल + क्षुबित + अम्बुराशि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); क्षुबित (PPP of क्षुभ्) qualifying अम्बुराशि; ‘of the ocean agitated at the time of the end of a kalpa’

• निर्ह्रादकल्पात्: from a roar-like (sound)
• निर्ह्रादकल्पात्: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्ह्राद + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular); निर्ह्राद-कल्प = like a roar

• दितिजस्य: of the Daitya (demon)
• दितिजस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दितिज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• नादात्: from the sound/roar
• नादात्: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वैदूर्यम्: cat’s-eye gem (vaidūrya)
• वैदूर्यम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्पन्नम्: arisen/produced
• उत्पन्नम्: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनेकवर्णम्: many-colored
• अनेकवर्णम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• शोभाभिरामद्युतिवर्णबीजम्: having as its source the hues of lovely splendor
• शोभाभिरामद्युतिवर्णबीजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभा + अभिराम + द्युति + वर्ण + बीज (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: शोभा-अभिराम (beautiful with splendor) + द्युति-वर्ण (luster-color) + बीज (seed/source)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: From upheaval arises ordered beauty: the cosmos transforms, and rare substances manifest from primal forces.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa emergence within prakṛti’s transformations; wonder (adbhuta) at creation while remaining within cyclical time (kalpa/pralaya).

Application: Treat vaidūrya as a special class of gem with distinctive multi-hued brilliance; its origin narrative supports careful handling and reverence in use.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.73 (vaidūrya section: origin and qualities)

Characters & Entities

• Diti-putra (Dānava/Asura)
• Kalpānta (cosmic dissolution)
• Ocean (Amburāśi)

FAQs

What is the importance of vaidūrya (cat’s-eye) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames vaidūrya as a cosmically originated gem—born from kalpānta turmoil and a Dānava’s thunder-like roar—highlighting its extraordinary, many-colored radiance and Purāṇic significance in gemstone lore.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it contributes to the Garuda Purana’s broader sacred cosmology by explaining how remarkable substances arise from cosmic events, a backdrop against which later afterlife teachings are situated.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that Purāṇic teaching often links material phenomena to cosmic order—encouraging reverence, restraint, and discernment rather than mere fascination with wealth or ornament.