Shloka 12

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

Pearl Sources, Valuation, Refinement, and Identification

Devanagari script

तेजो ऽन्विताः पुण्यकृतो भवन्ति मुक्ताफलस्याहिशिरोभवस्य / जिज्ञासया रत्नधनं विधिज्ञैः शुभेमुहूर्ते प्रयतैः प्रयत्नात्

Transliteration

tejo 'nvitāḥ puṇyakṛto bhavanti muktāphalasyāhiśirobhavasya / jijñāsayā ratnadhanaṃ vidhijñaiḥ śubhemuhūrte prayataiḥ prayatnāt

Translation

نیک اعمال کرنے والے تَیج سے آراستہ ہو جاتے ہیں۔ اہلِ رسم و قاعدہ کی باریک جستجو سے، شُبھ مُہورت میں ضبط و ریاضت کے ساتھ، سانپ کے سر سے پیدا ہونے والا موتی گوہر-دھن کے طور پر حاصل کیا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• तेजः: splendor/energy
• तेजः: Sadhana (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अन्विताः: endowed/possessed (of)
• अन्विताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√i (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकृदन्तः; विशेषणम् (पुण्यकृतः)

• पुण्यकृतः: doers of merit
• पुण्यकृतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya + kṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘पुण्यं कृतवन्तः’

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• मुक्ताफलस्य: of the pearl
• मुक्ताफलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muktā + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्

• अहिशिरोभवस्य: originating from a serpent’s head
• अहिशिरोभवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ahi + śiras + bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (मुक्ताफलस्य)

• जिज्ञासया: by inquiry/with desire to know
• जिज्ञासया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jijñāsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• रत्नधनम्: treasure of gems
• रत्नधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• विधिज्ञैः: by those who know the rules/ritual
• विधिज्ञैः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (मुहूर्ते)

• मुहूर्ते: at an auspicious moment
• मुहूर्ते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• प्रयतैः: by the disciplined/prepared
• प्रयतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√yat (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (विधिज्ञैः)

• प्रयत्नात्: through effort; from exertion
• प्रयत्नात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative), एकवचनम्; हेत्वर्थे (cause)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puṇya generates tejas; disciplined, knowledgeable inquiry under proper timing yields rare results.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama with sattvic uplift: merit manifests as radiance and capacity; right knowledge (vidhi-jñāna) guides action.

Application: Align effort with competence and timing: seek expert guidance, choose auspicious windows, and apply sustained discipline for high-value goals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: liminal/hidden source (serpent-head origin)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.69.11 (ratna attainment and prosperity); Garuda Purana 1.69.13 (rakṣā-vidhāna—ritual expertise)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa
• Ahi (serpent)

FAQs

What is the importance of puṇya (merit) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links puṇya with tejas—inner radiance and upliftment—implying that ethical, meritorious action refines the person and yields higher, beneficial outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing post-death geography directly, it emphasizes the causal basis of one’s destiny: merit and disciplined, dharmic action produce spiritual brilliance, which supports a better course for the jīva.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate puṇya through ethical living and charity, and when undertaking important rites or vows, follow proper procedure with knowledgeable guidance and choose an auspicious time with focused effort.