Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

गिरिकाचशिशुपालौ काच स्फटिकाश्च धूमनिर्भिन्नाः / वैदूर्यमणेरेते विजातयः सन्निभाः सन्ति

Transliteration

girikācaśiśupālau kāca sphaṭikāśca dhūmanirbhinnāḥ / vaidūryamaṇerete vijātayaḥ sannibhāḥ santi

Translation

Kaca gunung, kilau pucat seperti kanak-kanak, kaca biasa, dan kristal sphaṭika yang ternoda asap—semuanya ialah tiruan rendah yang menyerupai permata vaidūrya (mata kucing), namun hakikatnya berlainan jenis.

Word by Word

• गिरिकाचशिशुपालौ: (the two:) mountain-glass and śiśupāla (a glass variety)
• गिरिकाचशिशुपालौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिकाच + शिशुपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (गिरिकाचः च शिशुपालः च)

• काच: glass
• काच: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्फटिकाः: crystals
• स्फटिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फटिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धूमनिर्भिन्नाः: smoke-stained / smoke-tinged
• धूमनिर्भिन्नाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम + निर्भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद् (धातु) + नि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• वैदूर्यमणेः: of the vaidūrya gem (cat’s-eye)
• वैदूर्यमणेः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदूर्य + मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (वैदूर्यस्य मणिः)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विजातयः: inferior/other varieties (non-genuine kinds)
• विजातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सन्निभाः: similar (in appearance)
• सन्निभाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सन्ति: are
• सन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka (discrimination) between genuine and counterfeit based on kind (jāti) and marks (liṅga).

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-khyāti; distinguishing appearance (rūpa) from underlying reality (tattva).

Application: When assessing valuables or claims, test for authentic characteristics rather than relying on superficial similarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.73 (ratna-lakshana/vaidurya-pariksha context); Garuda Purana 1.72–1.74 (gem classification and valuation passages)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that vaidūrya has specific identifying traits and that many common materials can mimic its appearance; correct identification is essential when using gems for auspicious purposes.

How does this verse guide the selection of gemstones?

It warns that quartz-like mountain glass, ordinary glass, and smoky/clouded crystal can resemble vaidūrya, so one should avoid confusing look-alikes with the true gem.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When purchasing or wearing cat’s-eye for traditional purposes, verify authenticity (reputable source/testing) and avoid stones that are merely visually similar, such as glass or smoky crystal.