Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

कुसुंभनीलव्यतिमिश्ररागप्रत्युग्ररक्ताबुजतुल्यभासः / तथापरे ऽरुष्करकण्टकारिपुष्पत्विषो हिङ्गुलवत्त्विषो ऽन्ये

Transliteration

kusuṃbhanīlavyatimiśrarāgapratyugraraktābujatulyabhāsaḥ / tathāpare 'ruṣkarakaṇṭakāripuṣpatviṣo hiṅgulavattviṣo 'nye

Translation

కొన్ని రత్నములు కుసుంభము మరియు నీలము కలిసిన వర్ణఛాయతో, అత్యంత ఎర్రని కమలములవలె ప్రకాశించుచున్నవి; మరికొన్ని అరుష్కర, కంటకారి పుష్పకాంతివలె; ఇంకొన్ని హింగులము (సిందూరం) వలె మెరిసుచున్నవి।

Word by Word

• कुसुम्भनीलव्यतिमिश्ररागप्रति-उग्र-रक्त-अबुज-तुल्य-भासः: having a hue like intensely red lotus, with a mixture of safflower-blue tones
• कुसुम्भनीलव्यतिमिश्ररागप्रति-उग्र-रक्त-अबुज-तुल्य-भासः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुसुम्भ + नील + व्यतिमिश्र + राग + प्रति + उग्र + रक्त + अबुज + तुल्य + भास (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (वर्ण-विशेषण-समूहः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (अपरे/अन्ये इत्यादीनाम्)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘others’

• अरुष्करकण्टकारिपुष्पत्विषः: having the sheen of aruṣkara/kaṇṭakāri flowers
• अरुष्करकण्टकारिपुष्पत्विषः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरुष्कर + कण्टकारि + पुष्प + त्विष् (प्रातिपदिक-चतुष्टय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘अरुष्कर-कण्टकारि-पुष्पस्य त्विष्’); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• हिङ्गुलवत्: like cinnabar
• हिङ्गुलवत्: Upamana (Simile-marker/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हिङ्गुल + वत् (तद्धित-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमान-प्रयोगः); ‘वत्’ = ‘like’

• त्विषः: lustres/splendors
• त्विषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (अर्थतः—‘lustres’)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiplicity within unity: mixed colors (vyatimiśra-rāga) show how qualities combine to produce distinct appearances and effects.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-miśraṇa in prakṛti; the observer’s discernment recognizes patterns without being bound by them.

Application: Recognize ‘mixed’ tendencies in oneself (habits, emotions) and intentionally cultivate balanced combinations—channel intensity into constructive expression.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: riverbank/river vicinity

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70.6-9 (same descriptive passage on gems, hues, and radiance)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing colors and radiance in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses vivid color imagery to classify post-death appearances, implying that beings in the afterlife can be recognized by distinct lusters that reflect their condition and karmic state.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By describing multiple visible forms and hues, the verse suggests that the jīva’s post-death experience includes embodied perception in subtle realms, where states are differentiated and observable.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat actions as shaping future experience: cultivate sattvic conduct (truthfulness, restraint, compassion) so the inner disposition—and its consequences—becomes refined rather than harsh or distorted.