Shloka 30

The Examination of Pearls and Padmarāga (Ruby): Origins, Marks, Defects, and Valuation

Devanagari script

चाण्डाल एको ऽपि यथा द्विजातीन्समेत्य भूरीनपि हन्त्ययत्नात् / अथो मणीन्भूरिगुणोपपन्नाञ्छक्रोति विप्लावयितुं विजात्यः

Transliteration

cāṇḍāla eko 'pi yathā dvijātīnsametya bhūrīnapi hantyayatnāt / atho maṇīnbhūriguṇopapannāñchakroti viplāvayituṃ vijātyaḥ

Translation

Cũng giống như một kẻ Chandala duy nhất, khi gặp nhiều người thuộc tầng lớp hai lần sinh, có thể tiêu diệt họ mà không cần tốn nhiều công sức, thì một viên đá thuộc loại thấp kém cũng có thể làm hỏng và gây rối loạn cho ngay cả những viên ngọc quý được ban tặng nhiều phẩm hạnh.

Word by Word

• चाण्डालः: a caṇḍāla (outcaste)
• चाण्डालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकः: one / single
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘even’

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative), ‘just as’

• द्विजातीन्: twice-born people (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• समेत्य: having approached
• समेत्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having approached/met’

• भूरीन्: many / abundant
• भूरीन्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘even/also’

• हन्ति: kills / strikes down
• हन्ति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अयत्नात्: without effort / effortlessly
• अयत्नात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (Singular); ‘अ-’ नकारार्थ (without effort)

• अथो: then / so
• अथो: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ + उ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-समूह (connector), ‘then/so indeed’

• मणीन्: gems
• मणीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भूरिगुणोपपन्नान्: endowed with many qualities
• भूरिगुणोपपन्नान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि-गुण-उपपन्न (प्रातिपदिक); भूरि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शक्नोति: is able
• शक्नोति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• विप्लावयितुम्: to ruin / to upset
• विप्लावयितुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-प्लु (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रेरण (Causative) + तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (Infinitive), ‘to cause to be ruined/overturned’

• विजात्यः: one of a different kind / an inferior kind
• विजात्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṅga-doṣa (harmful association): one corrupting element can ruin many excellent ones; guard purity/quality by careful separation.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-saṅga and its consequences in vyavahāra; the mind and community are shaped by association.

Application: In collections, teams, and communities, address toxic elements early; protect high standards through screening and accountability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.70: warnings about mixing inferior with superior gems; doṣa spreading by contact/setting

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding bad association in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that even a single corrupt influence can destroy the virtue of many, so guarding one’s company is part of protecting dharma.

How does this verse explain spiritual decline?

By comparing virtue to precious jewels, it shows how one improper influence can “spoil” accumulated good qualities and destabilize a righteous community.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose companions and environments that strengthen ethical discipline; distance yourself from influences that normalize harm, deceit, or addiction.