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Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

षट्कोटि शुद्वममलं स्फुटतीक्ष्णधारं वर्णान्वितं लघु सुपार्श्वमपेतदोषम् / इन्द्रायुधांशुविसृतिच्छुरितान्तरिक्षमेवंविधं भुवि भवेत्सुलभं न वज्रम्

Transliteration

ṣaṭkoṭi śudvamamalaṃ sphuṭatīkṣṇadhāraṃ varṇānvitaṃ laghu supārśvamapetadoṣam / indrāyudhāṃśuvisṛticchuritāntarikṣamevaṃvidhaṃ bhuvi bhavetsulabhaṃ na vajram

Translation

纵使此金刚杵仿佛具六俱胝之多面，清净无垢，刃锋分明而极锐，色相光耀，体质轻灵，侧面端正且无瑕疵；其光芒散射，充满虚空，如因陀罗之虹弓——如此之杵在人间大地，亦终非易得。

Word by Word
ṣaṭsix
ṣaṭ:
Visheshana (Numeral/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसंख्यावाचक; समासे पूर्वपद (numeral; compound member)
koṭisix-edged (six corners)
koṭi:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootkoṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: ṣaṭ-koṭi ('six-edged/with six corners')
śudvampure
śudvam:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśudva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter sg.; 'pure/clear'—rare form)
amalamspotless
amalam:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootamala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण
sphuṭaclear/distinct
sphuṭa:
Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeAdjective
Rootsphuṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)
tīkṣṇasharp
tīkṣṇa:
Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeAdjective
Roottīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासे प्रातिपदिक (compound member)
dhāramedge/blade
dhāram:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootdhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: sphuṭa-tīkṣṇa-dhāra ('having clear sharp edge')
varṇacolor
varṇa:
Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeNoun
Rootvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)
anvitamendowed with color
anvitam:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootanu-√i (इ) (धातु) + -ta (कृत्)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: varṇa-anvita ('endowed with color/lustre')
laghulight (in weight)
laghu:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootlaghu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण
suwell/good
su:
Sambandha (Prefix/उपसर्ग)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsu (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपसर्गवत् पूर्वपद (prefix-like indeclinable: 'well/good')
pārśvamgood sides/flanks
pārśvam:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootpārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: su-pārśva ('having good sides')
apetaremoved/absent
apeta:
Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeAdjective
Rootapa-√i (इ) (धातु) + -ta (कृत्)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)
doṣamdefect
doṣam:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootdoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: apeta-doṣa ('free from defects')
indrāyudhaIndra's bow (rainbow)
indrāyudha:
Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeNoun
Rootindra + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member; 'Indra's weapon/rainbow')
aṃśuray
aṃśu:
Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeNoun
Rootaṃśu (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)
visṛtispreading/diffusion
visṛti:
Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeNoun
Rootvisṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member)
churitastreaked/splashed
churita:
Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeAdjective
Root√chur (चुर्) (धातु) + -ita (कृत्)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समासे), प्रातिपदिक (compound member; 'streaked/splashed')
antarikṣamsky/space
antarikṣam:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootantarikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: indrāyudha-aṃśu-visṛti-churita-antarikṣa ('sky streaked with the spread of rainbow-rays')
evaṃvidhamsuch (of this kind)
evaṃvidham:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootevaṃ + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: evaṃ-vidha ('of such a kind')
bhuvion earth
bhuvi:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhū (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन
bhavetwould be/should be
bhavet:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√bhū (भू) (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
sulabhameasily obtainable
sulabham:
Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootsu + labha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: su-labha ('easily obtainable')
nanot
na:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध
vajramvajra
vajram:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvajra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the most idealized perfection is rare in the world; recognize limits of acquisition and the exceptional nature of true excellence.

Vedantic Theme: Asakti (non-attachment) and realism about worldly attainments; the ‘rare on earth’ motif nudges toward inner wealth over external marvels.

Application: Set realistic expectations; value quality over obsession; when encountering true excellence, treat it with reverence and responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial-sky imagery

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68: śubha-vajra qualities and rarity; Earlier defect-verses contrasting doṣa vs nirdoṣa

Characters & Entities
I
Indra

FAQs

The verse uses the vajra as a benchmark for an almost unattainable ideal—perfectly pure, flawless, radiant, and powerful—emphasizing its extreme rarity on earth.

By stressing how rare a truly flawless object is, it supports the Purana’s recurring theme that genuine purity and perfection are difficult to attain in the human realm, encouraging discernment and spiritual striving.

Treat “flawlessness” as exceptional: aim for purity and integrity in conduct and ritual, but also cultivate humility and realism about what is truly rare and hard-won.

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