Shloka 7

Karketana (Karketa) Lakṣaṇa: Origin, Color-Forms, Purity Marks, and Ritual Efficacy

Devanagari script

कर्केतनं यदि परीक्षितवर्णरूपं प्रत्यग्रभास्वरदिवाकरसुप्रकाशम् / तस्योत्तमस्य मणि शास्त्रविदां महिम्ना तुल्यं तु मूल्यमुदितं तुलितस्य कार्यम्

Transliteration

karketanaṃ yadi parīkṣitavarṇarūpaṃ pratyagrabhāsvaradivākarasuprakāśam / tasyottamasya maṇi śāstravidāṃ mahimnā tulyaṃ tu mūlyamuditaṃ tulitasya kāryam

Translation

若将迦尔克多那宝（hessonite）加以检验，确证其色与形皆真，光辉新鲜如灿然日轮；则依通晓圣典（śāstra）之贤者的权威裁断，此上等宝石所宣定之价，当与依法称量、审定而确立之价等同。

Word by Word

• कर्केतनम्: karketana (gem)
• कर्केतनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्केतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• परीक्षितवर्णरूपम्: whose color and form are examined
• परीक्षितवर्णरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + ईक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + वर्ण + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; (परीक्षित = क्त-कृदन्त)

• प्रत्यग्रभास्वरदिवाकरसुप्रकाशम्: very bright like the fresh-radiant sun
• प्रत्यग्रभास्वरदिवाकरसुप्रकाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यग्र + भास्वर + दिवाकर + सुप्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-समास, विशेषण

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• उत्तमस्य: of the best
• उत्तमस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (of the best)

• मणे: of the gem
• मणे: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (वैकल्पिक/वैदिक-प्रयोग; मणे = मणेः-स्थाने)

• शास्त्रविदाम्: of the knowers of the treatises
• शास्त्रविदाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + विद् (प्रातिपदिक: विद्-शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• महिम्ना: by (its) greatness
• महिम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• तुल्यम्: equal
• तुल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• मूल्यम्: value/price
• मूल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• उदितम्: declared
• उदितम्: Kriya-vishesana (Predicative/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (stated/declared)

• तुलितस्य: of the weighed (gem)
• तुलितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; (of the weighed/compared)

• कार्यम्: should be done/required
• कार्यम्: Kriya (Injunctive sense/क्रिया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विधेय (what is to be done)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa and parīkṣā: a gem’s worth is established through examination of lakṣaṇa (color/form) and expert appraisal, not mere claim or appearance.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) and pramāṇa-niṣṭhā: truth is determined by valid means and competent testimony.

Application: Before adopting a gem as remedy or ornament, verify authenticity and quality through knowledgeable experts; align purchase/value with tested criteria.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.75 (ratna-parīkṣā, doṣa-guṇa); Garuda Purana 1.76 (ākara and origin narratives for gems)

Characters & Entities

• Karketana (hessonite/gomedaka)
• Shastravids (learned authorities)

FAQs

What is the importance of testing (parīkṣā) gemstones in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that a gem’s worth depends on verification of authentic characteristics (true color/form and radiant luster) and on śāstra-grounded expert appraisal, not mere appearance or hearsay.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it teaches a dharmic principle of discernment—proper testing and reliance on śāstric expertise—within the text’s broader instruction on right conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before buying or using a gemstone for religious, astrological, or personal purposes, verify authenticity through objective testing and qualified expertise rather than marketing claims—aligning purchase decisions with disciplined discernment (parīkṣā).