Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

यथा च पद्मरागाणां जातकत्रितयं भवेत् / इन्द्र नीलेष्वपि तथा द्रष्टव्यमविशेषतः

Transliteration

yathā ca padmarāgāṇāṃ jātakatritayaṃ bhavet / indra nīleṣvapi tathā draṣṭavyamaviśeṣataḥ

Translation

ดังที่แก้วปัทมรากะ (ทับทิม) มีการจำแนกเป็นสามประเภท ฉันใด แก้วอินทระนีละ (ไพลิน) ก็พึงเข้าใจฉันนั้นโดยไม่ต้องแยกต่างใดๆ

Word by Word

• यथा: as/just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पद्मरागाणाम्: of rubies
• पद्मरागाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• जातकत्रितयम्: a triad (of tests/criteria)
• जातकत्रितयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातक + त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (jātakānāṃ tritayam / 'threefold set of tests/marks')

• भवेत्: should be/occurs
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इन्द्रनीलेषु: in/among sapphires
• इन्द्रनीलेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रनील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• तथा: in the same way
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in the same way)

• द्रष्टव्यम्: should be examined
• द्रष्टव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रष्टव्य (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (it is to be seen/should be examined)

• अविशेषतः: without distinction
• अविशेषतः: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अविशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic classification (jātaka-tritaya) applies consistently across comparable gems; knowledge is transferable by analogy.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and vyavahāra-jñāna: reliable worldly knowledge arises from consistent criteria and analogical reasoning (upamāna).

Application: When evaluating sapphires, apply the same threefold typology used for rubies; avoid arbitrary distinctions and rely on established categories.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.72.9 (jātaka-tritaya for padmarāga; extended to indranīla)

FAQs

What is the importance of gemstone classification in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the text applies systematic, repeatable categories (here, a threefold typology) to evaluate gemstones, indicating a broader concern with lakṣaṇa—recognized characteristics used for consistent judgment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey directly; it belongs to an instructional section on classification/characteristics, using rubies and sapphires as examples of uniform criteria.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use consistent standards when assessing quality—avoid arbitrary exceptions; apply the same evaluative framework across comparable cases.