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Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

यस्य वर्णस्य भूयस्त्वात्क्षीरे शतगुणे स्थितः / नीलतां तन्नयेत्सर्वं महानीलः स उच्यते

Transliteration

yasya varṇasya bhūyastvātkṣīre śataguṇe sthitaḥ / nīlatāṃ tannayetsarvaṃ mahānīlaḥ sa ucyate

Translation

Ang sangkap na iyon, dahil sa lakas ng sariling kulay, kahit ihalo sa gatas na nilabnaw nang sandaang ulit, ay pinapakulay asul ang buong halo—ito ang tinatawag na “mahā-nīla” (malalim na bughaw).

Word by Word
यस्यwhose
यस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter)
वर्णस्यof the color
वर्णस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)
भूयस्त्वात्because of predominance/excess
भूयस्त्वात्:
Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative)
TypeNoun
Rootभूयस् + त्व (प्रातिपदिक; भाववाचक-प्रत्यय)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)
क्षीरेin milk
क्षीरे:
Adhikarana (Location)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)
शतगुणेhundredfold
शतगुणे:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootशत + गुण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); शतगुण = शतं गुणाः यस्य/शतगुणम् (hundredfold)
स्थितःsituated/placed
स्थितः:
Karta (Subject qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
नीलताम्blueness
नीलताम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootनीलता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
तत्that
तत्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
नयेत्would lead/turn (into)
नयेत्:
Kriya (Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootनी (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्
सर्वम्everything/entirely
सर्वम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
महानीलः(the gem) Mahānīla
महानीलः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootमहान् + नील (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); महान् नीलः = very blue
सःhe/that (one)
सः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
उच्यतेis called
उच्यते:
Kriya (Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa-pramāṇa: a thing is known by its defining power (here, color dominance even under dilution).

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa and vyavahāra-jñāna (empirical knowledge) as a basis for right action; guṇa reveals svabhāva.

Application: Use a dilution/mixture test to identify genuine mahānīla by its strong nīla-varṇa that pervades the whole medium.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.72 (ratna-lakṣaṇa context); Garuda Purana 1.73 (continuation into other gems and their tests)

FAQs

This verse defines ‘mahānīla’ as a deep blue quality so intense that it colors an entire mixture even in great dilution, using it as a precise descriptive standard.

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; it functions as a definitional/illustrative statement, typical of Purāṇic teaching that clarifies terms through vivid analogies.

It encourages discernment: even a subtle presence can strongly influence the whole—apply this to cultivating good qualities (sattva) and avoiding harmful influences.

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