Shloka 28

Marakata (Emerald): Mythic Origin, Anti-Poison Virtue, Qualities, Defects, and Proper Wearing

Devanagari script

तुलया पद्मरागस्य यन्मूल्यमुपजायते / लभते ऽभ्यधिकं तस्माद्गुणैर्मरकतं युतम्

Transliteration

tulayā padmarāgasya yanmūlyamupajāyate / labhate 'bhyadhikaṃ tasmādguṇairmarakataṃ yutam

Translation

Dẫu cân ngọc hồng ngọc (padmarāga) được giá bao nhiêu, thì ngọc lục bảo đầy đủ phẩm chất thượng hảo còn đạt giá trị cao hơn thế nữa.

Word by Word

• तुलया: by comparison/measure
• तुलया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• पद्मरागस्य: of ruby (padmarāga)
• पद्मरागस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (पद्म + राग); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Tatpurusha; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma/Pratipadya (Relative object/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Pronoun, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• मूल्यम्: value/price
• मूल्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• उपजायते: arises/comes about
• उपजायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Present indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• लभते: obtains/gets
• लभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Present indicative, 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• अभ्यधिकम्: more/greater
• अभ्यधिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्यधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; कर्मविशेषण (लभते)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Cause/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन — Pronoun, Ablative, Singular

• गुणैः: with qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मरकतम्: emerald
• मरकतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरकत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• युतम्: joined/possessing
• युतम्: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Past passive participle, Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; विशेषण of मरकतम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True value depends on intrinsic qualities, not merely category or weight; excellence elevates worth beyond baseline measures.

Vedantic Theme: Guna-viveka (discernment of qualities) and the primacy of inner excellence over external comparison.

Application: Evaluate people, tools, and resources by demonstrated qualities and fitness-for-purpose, not by labels or superficial metrics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.71 (comparative valuation of gems; qualities vs defects)

FAQs

What is the importance of qualities (guṇas) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse teaches that intrinsic qualities determine true worth—just as a high-quality emerald can surpass a ruby in value, a person’s virtues can outweigh external status or possessions.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader moral teaching?

It uses a gemstone analogy to reinforce a recurring Purāṇic theme: merit is not merely measured by outward measures, but by inner excellence—conduct, character, and cultivated virtues.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize integrity, self-discipline, and good conduct over display and prestige; long-term respect and “value” come from character, not mere outward measures.