Shloka 15

Ratna-parīkṣā: Vajra (Diamond/Thunderbolt) — Origin, Types, Testing, Defects, Weights, and Royal Auspiciousness

Devanagari script

महा प्रभावं विबुधैर्यस्यमाद्वज्रमुदाहृतम् / वज्रपूर्वा परीक्षेयं ततो ऽस्माभिः प्रकीर्त्यते

Transliteration

mahā prabhāvaṃ vibudhairyasyamādvajramudāhṛtam / vajrapūrvā parīkṣeyaṃ tato 'smābhiḥ prakīrtyate

Translation

Vật mà các bậc hiền trí tuyên xưng là có đại oai lực—được gọi là “Vajra” Mādhva, liên hệ với đức Vishnu—trước hết phải được khảo xét; rồi sau đó chúng tôi sẽ thuật bày.

Word by Word

• महा: great
• महा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रभावम् इति विशेष्य)

• प्रभावम्: power/efficacy
• प्रभावम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विबुधैः: by the wise
• विबुधैः: Karana/Agent (Instrumental of agent/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• आद्: from/because of
• आद्: Apadana (Ablative sense/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आद् (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/हेतुवाचक अव्यय (from/because of)

• वज्रम्: diamond/vajra
• वज्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उदाहृतम्: is stated/declared
• उदाहृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-आ√हृ (धातु) → उदाहृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); विधेय-विशेषणम्

• वज्रपूर्वा: beginning with the diamond
• वज्रपूर्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वज्रं पूर्वं यस्याः)

• परीक्षा: examination
• परीक्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thereafter/from that)

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Karana/Agent (Instrumental of agent/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• प्रकीर्त्यते: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्त्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (is proclaimed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even sacred/powerful objects must be examined first; description follows verification.

Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā with viveka: reverence is balanced by discernment; truth is approached through proper inquiry (parīkṣā).

Application: Before adopting powerful remedies/amulets/claims, test authenticity and suitability; combine devotion with careful evaluation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68.13-14 (testing and expert appraisal); Garuda Purana 1.68.16 (origin of vajras from bone fragment)

Characters & Entities

• Vibudhas (the wise/learned)
• Madhva (Vishnu-related epithet/concept)
• Vajra

FAQs

What is the importance of examining (parīkṣā) a rite or teaching in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that even highly praised, powerful teachings should be properly verified/understood first, and only then taught or applied—preventing blind or incorrect ritual practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: it signals a structured, step-by-step exposition of potent means relevant to the post-death context—first clarifying the most powerful element (“Vajra”), then proceeding with the rest of the teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before adopting any ‘powerful’ spiritual remedy or death-rite, learn its meaning, context, and correct method from reliable sources—then practice with clarity and discipline.