Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

आकारवर्णौ प्रथमं गुणदोषौ तत्फलं परीक्षा च / मूल्यं च रत्नकुशलैर्विज्ञेयं सर्वशास्त्राणाम्

Transliteration

ākāravarṇau prathamaṃ guṇadoṣau tatphalaṃ parīkṣā ca / mūlyaṃ ca ratnakuśalairvijñeyaṃ sarvaśāstrāṇām

Translation

先以形相与色泽辨其德与失；继而考其功用（价值）、验试之法与其价直——此皆宝石通达者当依诸论典而了知。

Word by Word

• आकार-वर्णौ: shape and color
• आकार-वर्णौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (आकारश्च वर्णश्च)

• प्रथमम्: first/primarily
• प्रथमम्: Sambandha/Discourse (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative ‘first/primarily’)

• गुण-दोषौ: merits and faults
• गुण-दोषौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (गुणश्च दोषश्च)

• तत्-फलम्: its result
• तत्-फलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तस्य फलम्)

• परीक्षा: examination/testing
• परीक्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक; परि+ईक्ष् (धातु) + टाप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Discourse (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• मूल्यम्: value/price
• मूल्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Discourse (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• रत्न-कुशलैः: by those skilled in gems
• रत्न-कुशलैः: Karana (Agent/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रत्ने कुशलः)

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known/ascertained
• विज्ञेयम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे ‘विज्ञेय’ (gerundive/obligatory passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्व-शास्त्राणाम्: of all treatises/sciences
• सर्व-शास्त्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (सर्वाणि शास्त्राणि)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa-based evaluation: judge by observable marks (ākāra/varṇa), assess guṇa-doṣa, verify by parīkṣā, and determine phala and mūlya—knowledge must be systematic and accountable.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and pramāṇa in vyavahāra; right knowledge guides right action and prevents harm/deception.

Application: Adopt transparent standards for appraisal (testing, provenance, quality grading); apply the same discipline to evaluating claims—spiritual or material.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ratna-parīkṣā context: criteria and testing implied across the gem section

FAQs

What is the importance of gemstone examination (parīkṣā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames gemstone evaluation as a śāstra-based discipline: form and color reveal initial qualities, but proper testing and valuation by experts is essential before assigning worth.

How does this verse explain the correct method to judge a gem?

It gives an ordered method—first observe shape and color, then assess merits and defects, then confirm through testing, and finally determine practical result and market value through trained experts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not rely on appearance alone; seek qualified assessment, verify quality through testing, and price ethically based on proven characteristics and expert knowledge.