Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

तस्य नादसमुत्थत्वादाकरः सुमहागुणः / अभूदुत्तरीतो लोके लोकत्रयविभूषणः

Transliteration

tasya nādasamutthatvādākaraḥ sumahāguṇaḥ / abhūduttarīto loke lokatrayavibhūṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Por ter surgido do som (nāda), sua forma tornou-se sumamente virtuosa; e no mundo ficou célebre como “Uttarīta”, ornamento dos três mundos.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• नाद-समुत्थत्वात्: because of (its) arising from sound
• नाद-समुत्थत्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + समुत्थत्व (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+उत्+स्था धातोः भाववाचक-त्व प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी-अर्थे हेतौ), एकवचनम्; -त्वात् = कारणे/हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• आकरः: a mine/source (repository)
• आकरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• सुमहा-गुणः: of very great qualities
• सुमहा-गुणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (आकरस्य)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/भूतकाल), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• उत्तरीतः: surpassing/superior
• उत्तरीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तरीत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भावः, √तॄ/√तॄत्? ‘to cross/overcome’ इत्यर्थे; पाठभेदसम्भवः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (आकरस्य)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; अधिकरणम्

• लोक-त्रय-विभूषणः: ornament of the three worlds
• लोक-त्रय-विभूषणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; ‘लोकत्रयस्य विभूषणः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (आकरस्य)

Speaker

Likely Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāda as a generative principle: from subtle vibration arises manifest form endowed with guṇa and fame.

Vedantic Theme: From sūkṣma (subtle) to sthūla (gross) manifestation; nāda/śabda as a marker of ordered creation and meaningful form.

Application: Contemplate the causal link between subtle qualities (sound/vibration, intention) and manifest outcomes; cultivate ‘guṇa’ to become ‘lokānugraha’ (beneficial/ornamental to the world).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.73 (ratna-utpatti/vaidūrya-prakaraṇa context)

FAQs

What is the importance of nāda (sacred sound) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links ‘nāda’ with auspicious manifestation—what arises from sacred sound is portrayed as inherently endowed with great qualities and beneficial across the three worlds.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes purity of subtle causation: sound (nāda) is treated as a refined source, suggesting that subtle origins and inner quality shape one’s standing and influence in the worlds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate elevating sound—mantra, truthful speech, and disciplined recitation—since the verse frames sound as a cause that can generate virtue and auspiciousness.