Shloka 19

Vaidūrya (Cat’s-eye) Examination: Origin, Auspicious Marks, Imitations, and Valuation Measures

Devanagari script

इत्थं मणिविधिः प्रोक्तो रत्नानां मूल्यनिश्चये

Transliteration

itthaṃ maṇividhiḥ prokto ratnānāṃ mūlyaniścaye

Translation

ดังนี้ได้อธิบายวิธีพิจารณาประเมินอัญมณี เพื่อกำหนดมูลค่าของรัตนะอันประเสริฐแล้ว

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — adverb

• मणिविधिः: the procedure regarding gems
• मणिविधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — masculine nominative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मणेः विधिः)

• प्रोक्तः: has been stated
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि/परस्मैपद-प्रयोग), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — past passive participle used predicatively

• रत्नानाम्: of gems
• रत्नानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन — neuter genitive plural

• मूल्यनिश्चये: in the determination of value
• मूल्यनिश्चये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — masculine locative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मूल्यस्य निश्चयः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa (reliable criteria) and niścaya (certainty) in assessing value; disciplined discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) as a general virtue—right knowledge guiding right action.

Application: Use standardized marks (lakṣaṇa) to evaluate gems before purchase, donation, or royal/temple use; avoid deception and improper offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Ratna-lakṣaṇa sections continuing into 1.74 (origin and types of gems)

FAQs

What is the importance of ratna-mūlya-niścaya (gem value determination) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a closing statement indicating that the text has completed its guidance on how to assess and determine the value of gems using defined criteria (maṇi-vidhi).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the afterlife narrative; it concludes a technical section on gemstone evaluation, showing that the Garuda Purana also contains practical, worldly guidance alongside spiritual teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use structured criteria and careful verification when judging quality and price—especially for high-value items—rather than relying on appearance or hearsay.