Shloka 21

The Examination of Pearls and Padmarāga (Ruby): Origins, Marks, Defects, and Valuation

Devanagari script

कलशपुरोद्भवसिंहलतुम्बुरुदेशोत्थमुक्तपाणीयाः / श्रीपूर्णकाश्च सदृशा विजातयः पद्मरागाणाम्

Transliteration

kalaśapurodbhavasiṃhalatumburudeśotthamuktapāṇīyāḥ / śrīpūrṇakāśca sadṛśā vijātayaḥ padmarāgāṇām

Translation

Diz-se que esses rubis são do tipo Padmarāga quando se originam de Kalaśapura, de Siṃhala e da região de Tumburu, e quando são lustrosos e plenos de esplendor, semelhantes ao rubi verdadeiro, embora pertençam a subvariedades distintas.

Word by Word

• कलशपुरोद्भवसिंहलतुम्बुरुदेशोत्थमुक्तपाणीयाः: (Pearls) originating from Kalaśapura and from the Siṃhala–Tumburu region; of ‘pānīya’ type
• कलशपुरोद्भवसिंहलतुम्बुरुदेशोत्थमुक्तपाणीयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलशपुर-उद्भव-सींहल-तुम्बुरु-देश-उत्थ-मुक्त-पानीय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—(मुक्ताः) ‘कलशपुरोद्भवाः, सींहल-तुम्बुरु-देशोत्थाः’ इति देशोत्पत्तिनिर्देशः; ‘पानीय’ इति उपाधि/प्रयोगविशेषः

• श्रीपूर्णकाः: Śrīpūrṇaka (a variety/name)
• श्रीपूर्णकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीपूर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘श्री’ (कान्ति/शोभा) + ‘पूर्णक’ (पूर्णत्वयुक्त)

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

• सदृशाः: similar
• सदृशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• विजातयः: of different kinds/species
• विजातयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘भिन्नजातयः’ इत्यर्थे

• पद्मरागाणाम्: of rubies (padmarāga)
• पद्मरागाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa by lakṣaṇa: true appraisal depends on origin and observable qualities (lustre, fullness), even within sub-varieties.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) between nāma-rūpa classifications and underlying guṇa (qualities).

Application: In any evaluation—objects or people—use clear criteria (source, consistent qualities) rather than mere resemblance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city/region/island-region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70 (Ratna-parīkṣā context: padmarāga-bheda, lakṣaṇa, deśa-utpatti)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Padmarāga (ruby) descriptions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional ratna (gem) taxonomy—linking a gem’s authenticity and value to origin and observable qualities like clarity and splendor.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it appears in a descriptive section on material classifications (ratna-lakṣaṇa), which can be used in ritual and auspicious contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a traditional checklist for evaluating rubies: provenance (region of origin) plus visible traits like clarity and luster, especially when selecting gems for customary/ritual purposes.