Shloka 15

Indranīla (Blue Sapphire): Source-Myth, Grades, Tests, Substitutes, and Price

Devanagari script

गुरुभावकठिनभावावेतेषां नित्यमेव विज्ञेयौ / काचाद्यथावदुत्तरविवर्धमानौ विशेषेण

Transliteration

gurubhāvakaṭhinabhāvāveteṣāṃ nityameva vijñeyau / kācādyathāvaduttaravivardhamānau viśeṣeṇa

Translation

ความหนักและความแข็งของสิ่งเหล่านี้พึงรู้ไว้เสมอ; ดุจแก้วและสิ่งคล้ายกัน คุณลักษณะนั้นยิ่งเพิ่มขึ้นเป็นลำดับอย่างจำเพาะ।

Word by Word

• गुरु-भाव-कठिन-भावौ: heaviness and hardness
• गुरु-भाव-कठिन-भावौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + कठिन (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (गुरुभावश्च कठिनभावश्च)

• एतेषाम्: of these
• एतेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• विज्ञेयौ: should be known
• विज्ञेयौ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; ‘विज्ञेयौ’ = ‘विज्ञातव्यौ’

• काच-आदि: from glass etc.
• काच-आदि: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काच (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘काचादि’ = काच-प्रभृति)

• यथा-वत्: properly
• यथा-वत्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘as it is/correctly’)

• उत्तर-विवर्धमानौ: increasing progressively (in higher degree)
• उत्तर-विवर्धमानौ: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्धमान (प्रातिपदिक; वर्तमानकृदन्त from वि+वृध्)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त ‘विवर्धमान’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘उत्तरं विवर्धमानौ’ = क्रमशः वर्धमानौ)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनं अव्ययवत् (instrumental used adverbially)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge through lakṣaṇa (defining characteristics): guru-bhāva (heaviness) and kaṭhina-bhāva (hardness) as diagnostic markers.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and viveka: reliable knowledge arises from tested characteristics, not assumption.

Application: Use standardized tests (weight comparison, scratch/hardness checks) and graded classification when evaluating gems.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: gem-testing workshop/scholarly hall (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.72: sequential gem-identification criteria (contextual continuity)

FAQs

What is the importance of progressive increase (uttara-vivardhamāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that certain states or tendencies do not remain static; they intensify step-by-step, so early correction through dharma and restraint is crucial.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and karmic consequences?

By describing increasing heaviness and hardness, it implies karmic impressions can become more binding over time, making spiritual progress and post-death outcomes more difficult unless addressed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat harmful habits and unethical actions as progressively strengthening patterns—interrupt them early through self-discipline, repentance, and consistent dharmic conduct.