Shloka 3

Lāṅgalī and the Crystal-like Taila: Purity, Value, and Sin-Destroying Merit

Devanagari script

न त्तुल्यं हि रत्नानामथवा पापनाशनम् / संस्कृतं शिल्पिना सद्यो मूल्यं किञ्चिल्लभेत्ततः (दा)

Transliteration

na ttulyaṃ hi ratnānāmathavā pāpanāśanam / saṃskṛtaṃ śilpinā sadyo mūlyaṃ kiñcillabhettataḥ (dā)

Translation

न हि रत्नानां तुल्यं किञ्चिदस्ति, नापि पापनाशनसमं किमपि। शिल्पिना संस्कृतं तु तत्क्षणादेव किञ्चिन्मूल्यं लभते तस्मात्।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• तुल्यम्: equal
• तुल्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg; adjective)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• रत्नानाम्: of gems
• रत्नानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• पापनाशनम्: destroyer of sin
• पापनाशनम्: Pratishedhya/Upapada (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पापस्य नाशनम्) (neuter nom/acc sg)

• संस्कृतम्: refined/processed
• संस्कृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + कृ (धातु) → संस्कृत (कृदन्त-भूतकृत)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• शिल्पिना: by an artisan
• शिल्पिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverbial/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मूल्यम्: value/price
• मूल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• किञ्चित्: some (a little)
• किञ्चित्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितपरिमाणवाचक (indefinite pronoun; neuter nom/acc sg)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg optative)

• ततः: from that/thereafter
• ततः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्-प्रभव-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: from that/thereafter)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṃskāra (refinement) and guṇa (quality) determine true worth; what is ‘sin-destroying’ is beyond ordinary comparison.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/saṃskāra as determinants of apparent value; suggestion that inner purification surpasses external wealth.

Application: Cultivate skill and ethical refinement; prefer purifying acts (dāna, japa, satkarma) over mere possession; evaluate objects by quality and proper processing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Ratna-śāstra / ratna-parīkṣā passages around 1.80.x on coral, crystal, and gem testing

FAQs

What is the importance of pāpa-nāśana (sin-destruction) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights pāpa-nāśana as supremely valuable—comparable to precious gems—implying that practices and conduct that remove sin are among the highest gains.

How does this verse explain spiritual progress?

By using the metaphor of a gem refined by an artisan, it teaches that refinement (saṃskāra/purification) quickly brings worth—likewise, disciplined purification makes one’s life and actions spiritually valuable.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat self-improvement as “refinement”: reduce harmful habits, follow dharmic conduct, and adopt purifying practices (truthfulness, charity, mantra/japa, restraint) so character gains immediate moral and spiritual value.