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

कल्पान्तकाले क्षुबिताम्बुराशेः, निर्ह्रादकल्पाद् दितिजस्य नादात्; वैदूर्यमुत्पन्नमनेकवर्णं, शोभाभिरामं द्युतिवर्णबीजम्।

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.