Shloka 38

मुक्ता-उत्पत्ति-भेदाः, मूल्य-मान-निर्णयः, शोधन-परीक्षा-लक्षणानि

Pearl Sources, Valuation, Refinement, and Identification

Devanagari script

श्वेतकाचसमं तारं हेमांशशतयोजितम् / रसमध्ये प्रधार्येत मौक्तिकं देहभूषणम्

Transliteration

śvetakācasamaṃ tāraṃ hemāṃśaśatayojitam / rasamadhye pradhāryeta mauktikaṃ dehabhūṣaṇam

Translation

Ang perlas—kumikinang na gaya ng puting kristal, na iniuugnay sa sandaang sinulid (o sinag) ng ginto—ay dapat isalansan at isuot sa gitna ng dibdib bilang palamuti ng katawan.

Word by Word

• śveta: white
• śveta: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• kāca: glass/crystal
• kāca: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• samam: similar/equal to
• samam: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of tāram)

• tāram: tāra (a mineral/ingredient)
• tāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• hema: gold
• hema: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• aṃśa: part/portion
• aṃśa: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• śata: hundred
• śata: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound; numeral)

• yojitam: mixed/combined
• yojitam: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle) ‘joined/mixed’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying tāram)

• rasa: liquid/juice
• rasa: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• madhye: in the middle/within
• madhye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• pradhāryeta: should be placed/held
• pradhāryeta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• mauktikam: pearl
• mauktikam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauktika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (subject of pradhāryeta)

• deha: body
• deha: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक-आधार (in compound)

• bhūṣaṇam: body-ornament
• bhūṣaṇam: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (deha-bhūṣaṇa = ornament of the body)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious use of refined objects: wear properly prepared gems in appropriate placement.

Vedantic Theme: Outer order mirrors inner order; sattvic adornment supports composure and dignity (indirect).

Application: String the pearl securely with gold thread/setting; wear at mid-chest for balanced display and protection of the gem.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: personal adornment/body context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.69.35-37 (how the pearl is refined and polished); Garuda Purana 1.69.39 (regional practice and authenticity concerns)

FAQs

What is the importance of wearing a pearl (mauktika) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the pearl as an auspicious, refined ornament—meant to be properly set (with gold) and worn in a prescribed manner—reflecting dharmic standards of purity and decorum in daily life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to the Ācāra (conduct) teaching layer, emphasizing auspicious, disciplined living that supports spiritual steadiness and dharmic life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt mindful simplicity and propriety: choose symbols of purity and restraint, wear them respectfully (not for vanity), and treat external adornment as secondary to ethical conduct.