Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

यद्यपि विशीर्णकोटिः सबिन्दुरेखान्वितो विवर्णो वा / तदपि धनधान्यपुत्रान्करोति सेन्द्रायुधो वज्रः

Transliteration

yadyapi viśīrṇakoṭiḥ sabindurekhānvito vivarṇo vā / tadapi dhanadhānyaputrānkaroti sendrāyudho vajraḥ

Translation

纵然金刚杵——因陀罗之神兵——其锋端残缺，带有斑点与纹线，乃至色泽黯淡，它仍能招致财富、谷粮与子嗣；因为它毕竟是因陀罗的金刚神兵。

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional)

• अपि: even though
• अपि: Sambandha (Concessive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपवाद-अव्यय (even/although)

• विशीर्णकोटिः: having a broken tip/edge
• विशीर्णकोटिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि√शीॄ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (विशीर्णा कोटिः यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘broken’

• सबिन्दुरेखान्वितः: endowed with dots and lines
• सबिन्दुरेखान्वितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बिन्दु + रेखा + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (बिन्दु-रेखा-सम्बन्धेन अन्वितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• विवर्णः: discoloured
• विवर्णः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; ‘discoloured’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• तत्: that (still)
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन; ‘that (vajra)’

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-अव्यय (even/also)

• धनधान्यपुत्रान्: wealth, grain, and sons
• धनधान्यपुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + धान्य + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (धनं च धान्यं च पुत्राश्च); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), बहुवचन

• करोति: produces/grants
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सेन्द्रायुधः: together with Indra’s weapon
• सेन्द्रायुधः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + इन्द्रायुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रायुधेन सह/युक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• वज्रः: the vajra/diamond
• वज्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A potent cause retains efficacy despite minor defects; auspicious substances can yield worldly fruits (artha, prajā) when properly possessed/used.

Vedantic Theme: Prārabdha-like limitation vs underlying śakti: surface defects do not negate essential potency; also a subtle lesson in not judging solely by external blemish.

Application: Do not discard valuable resources or people due to minor imperfections; focus on core capability and proper utilization.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial court (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.68: vajra-phala (benefits) and defect-tolerance in gem appraisal

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vajra

FAQs

What is the importance of the vajra (Indra’s weapon) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse uses the vajra as a symbol of inherent power: even when outwardly flawed, its essential potency remains and it is still said to yield prosperity and progeny.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana’s broader moral or spiritual teaching?

It emphasizes intrinsic nature over superficial appearance—what is truly powerful or dharmically endowed can still bear fruit despite visible defects.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not judge worth solely by external imperfections; cultivate inner strength and consistency, trusting that genuine capability can still produce good outcomes.