Shloka 40

मुक्ता-उत्पत्ति-भेदाः, मूल्य-मान-निर्णयः, शोधन-परीक्षा-लक्षणानि

Pearl Sources, Valuation, Refinement, and Identification

Devanagari script

उष्णे सलवणे स्नेहे निशां तद्वासयेज्जले / व्रीहिभिर्मर्दनीयं वा शुष्कवस्त्रोपवेष्टितम्

Transliteration

uṣṇe salavaṇe snehe niśāṃ tadvāsayejjale / vrīhibhirmardanīyaṃ vā śuṣkavastropaveṣṭitam

Translation

उष्णे सलवणे स्नेहे च जले निशां तद्वासयेत्; अथवा व्रीहिभिर्मर्दयेत्, शुष्कवस्त्रेणोपवेष्टितम्।

Word by Word

• उष्णे: in warm (condition)
• उष्णे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (locative: 'in warm [liquid]')

• स-लवणे: in salty (with salt)
• स-लवणे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारय-समासः (सहितं लवणेन = 'with salt')

• स्नेहे: in oil/fat
• स्नेहे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (locative)

• निशाम्: for a night
• निशाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; कालावधिः (accusative of duration)

• तत्: in that
• तत्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; निर्देशक-विशेषणम् (in that [liquid])

• वासयेत्: should soak/keep immersed
• वासयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु) (णिच् causative: वासय-)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (cause to dwell/soak)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• व्रीहिभिः: with rice grains
• व्रीहिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रीहि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्; करणम् (instrument)

• मर्दनीयम्: to be rubbed/should be rubbed
• मर्दनीयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृद् (धातु) + अनीय (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अनीय-प्रत्ययान्तः (gerundive: 'to be rubbed')

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपातः (particle of option)

• शुष्क-वस्त्र-उपवेष्टितम्: wrapped in a dry cloth
• शुष्क-वस्त्र-उपवेष्टितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवेष्टित (वेष्ट् धातु, उपसर्ग उप + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शुष्केन वस्त्रेण उपवेष्टितम् = 'wrapped with dry cloth'); क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (purity) and parīkṣā (testing) through disciplined procedure.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi as a prerequisite for clarity; discernment (viveka) between genuine and adulterated.

Application: Use controlled, repeatable tests before accepting valuables; cultivate habits of cleanliness and verification in daily dealings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.69.41-44 (criteria of genuine pearl)

FAQs

What is the importance of warm salted water and oil in Garuda Purana ritual instructions?

This verse prescribes a practical method of preparing/purifying an item for rite-use—softening or cleansing it by soaking overnight in warm salted water with oil, or alternatively by rubbing with rice—indicating careful ritual readiness rather than improvisation.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s guidance on post-death rites?

Within the Preta Kanda’s ritual context, such procedural details support the correct execution of śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related acts, which are emphasized as aids in orderly transitional rites for the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a principle of ritual/ethical diligence: prepare materials carefully, keep them clean and properly handled, and prefer time-tested, non-harmful methods (soaking, gentle rubbing, clean wrapping) over negligent or rushed practice.