The Examination of Gems: The Diamond

Verse 1 (garuda.1.68.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ परीक्षां वच्मि रत्नानां बलो नामासुरोऽभवत् ॥ इन्द्राद्या निर्जितास्तेन विजेतुं तैर्न शक्यते

. sūta uvāca . parīkṣāṁ vacmi ratnānāṁ balo nāmāsuro'bhavat . indrādyā nirjitāstena vijetuṁ tairna śakyate

Suta said: I shall now declare the examination of gems. There was a demon named Bala, by whom Indra and the other gods had been defeated, and whom they were unable to conquer.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.68.2)

वरव्याजेन पशुतां याचितः स सुरैर्मखे ॥ बलो ददौ स (स्व) पशुतामतिसत्त्व सुरैर्हतः

varavyājena paśutāṁ yācitaḥ sa surairmakhe . balo dadau sa (sva) paśutāmatisattva surairhataḥ

Under the pretext of granting a boon, the gods asked him, in a sacrifice, to become the sacrificial animal. Bala, of great might, offered himself as the victim, and was slain by the gods.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.68.3)

पशुवत्स विशस्तस्तैः स्ववाक्याशनियन्त्रितः ॥ बलो लोकोपराय देवानां हितकाम्यया

paśuvatsa viśastastaiḥ svavākyāśaniyantritaḥ . balo lokoparāya devānāṁ hitakāmyayā

Like an animal, they cut him apart, bound as he was by his own word. Bala did this out of desire for the welfare of the world and the good of the gods.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.68.4)

तस्य सत्त्वविशुद्धस्य विशुद्धेन च कर्मणा ॥ कायस्यावयवाः सर्वे रत्नबीजत्वमाययुः

tasya sattvaviśuddhasya viśuddhena ca karmaṇā . kāyasyāvayavāḥ sarve ratnabījatvamāyayuḥ

Because of his purified nature and purified deeds, all the limbs of his body became the seeds of gems.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.68.5)

देवानामथ यक्षाणां सिद्धानां पवनाशिनाम् ॥ रत्नबीजंस्व(जम)यं ग्राहः सुमहानभवत्तदा

devānāmatha yakṣāṇāṁ siddhānāṁ pavanāśinām . ratnabījaṁsva(jama)yaṁ grāhaḥ sumahānabhavattadā

For the gods, the Yakshas, and the wind-eating Siddhas (serpents), this seed of gems then became exceedingly great.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.68.6)

तेषां तु पततां वेगाद्विमानेन विहायसा ॥ यद्यत्पपात रत्नानां बीजं क्वचन किञ्चन

teṣāṁ tu patatāṁ vegādvimānena vihāyasā . yadyatpapāta ratnānāṁ bījaṁ kvacana kiñcana

As they fell with great speed through the sky from the celestial chariot, wherever any seed of gems fell —

Verse 7 (garuda.1.68.7)

महोदधौ सरिति वा पर्वते काननेऽपि वा ॥ तत्तदाकरतां यातं स्थानमाधेयगौरवात्

mahodadhau sariti vā parvate kānane'pi vā . tattadākaratāṁ yātaṁ sthānamādheyagauravāt

into a great ocean, a river, a mountain, or even a forest — that place, owing to the significance of what it received, became a gem-mine.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.68.8)

तेषु रक्षोविषव्यालव्याधिघ्नान्यघहानि च ॥ प्रादुर्भवन्ति रत्नानि तथैव विगुणानि च

teṣu rakṣoviṣavyālavyādhighnānyaghahāni ca . prādurbhavanti ratnāni tathaiva viguṇāni ca

In those places, gems arise that destroy demons, poison, serpents, and disease, and that remove sin — and, likewise, flawed ones too.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.68.9)

वज्रं मुक्तामणयः सपद्मरागाः समरकताः प्रोक्ताः ॥ अपि चेन्द्रनीलमणिवरवैदूर्य्याः पुष्परागाश्च

vajraṁ muktāmaṇayaḥ sapadmarāgāḥ samarakatāḥ proktāḥ . api cendranīlamaṇivaravaidūryyāḥ puṣparāgāśca

Diamond, pearls, and gems, together with padmaraga (ruby) and marakata (emerald) are declared; also indranila (sapphire), the finest vaidurya (cat's-eye), and pushparaga (topaz),

Verse 10 (garuda.1.68.10)

कर्केतनं सपुलकं रुधिराख्यसमन्वितं तथा स्फटिकम् ॥ विद्रुममणिश्च यत्नादुद्दिष्टं संग्रहे तज्ज्ञैः

karketanaṁ sapulakaṁ rudhirākhyasamanvitaṁ tathā sphaṭikam . vidrumamaṇiśca yatnāduddiṣṭaṁ saṁgrahe tajjñaiḥ

karketana together with pulaka, and rudhira ('blood-gem') together with sphatika (crystal), and vidruma (coral) — these have been carefully set forth by their knowers in this compilation.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.68.11)

आकारवर्णौ प्रथमं गुणदोषौ तत्फलं परीक्ष्य च ॥ मूल्यं च रत्नकुशलैर्विज्ञेयं सर्वशास्त्राणाम्

ākāravarṇau prathamaṁ guṇadoṣau tatphalaṁ parīkṣya ca . mūlyaṁ ca ratnakuśalairvijñeyaṁ sarvaśāstrāṇām

Shape and color first, then merit and fault, having examined their effect, and their price — all this should be known by those skilled in gems, from all the treatises.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.68.12)

कुलग्नेषूपजायन्ते यानि चोपहतेऽहनि ॥ दौषैस्तान्यपि युज्यन्ते हीयन्ते गुणसम्पदा

kulagneṣūpajāyante yāni copahate'hani . dauṣaistānyapi yujyante hīyante guṇasampadā

Those gems that arise under a bad ascendant, or on an inauspicious day, become joined with faults and diminished in their wealth of good qualities.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.68.13)

परीक्षापरिशुद्धानां रत्नानां पृथिवीभुजा ॥ धारणं संग्रहो वापि कार्य्यः श्रियमभीप्सता

parīkṣāpariśuddhānāṁ ratnānāṁ pṛthivībhujā . dhāraṇaṁ saṁgraho vāpi kāryyaḥ śriyamabhīpsatā

A king who desires prosperity should only wear or collect gems that have been thoroughly examined.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.68.14)

शास्त्रज्ञाः कुशलाश्चापि रत्नभाजः परीक्षकाः ॥ त एव मूल्यमात्राया वेत्तारः परिकीर्त्तिताः

śāstrajñāḥ kuśalāścāpi ratnabhājaḥ parīkṣakāḥ . ta eva mūlyamātrāyā vettāraḥ parikīrttitāḥ

Those learned in the treatises, the skilled examiners who deal in gems — they alone are declared to be the true assessors of proper value.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.68.15)

महा प्रभावं विबुधैर्यस्यमाद्वज्रमुदाहृतम् ॥ वज्रपूर्वा परीक्षेयं ततोऽस्माभिः प्रकीर्त्त्यते

mahā prabhāvaṁ vibudhairyasyamādvajramudāhṛtam . vajrapūrvā parīkṣeyaṁ tato'smābhiḥ prakīrttyate

Since the wise have declared the diamond to be of the greatest power, we therefore now declare this examination, beginning with the diamond.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.68.16)

तस्यास्थिलेशो निपपात येषु भुवः प्रदेशेषु कथञ्चिदेव ॥ वज्राणि वज्रायुधनिर्जिगीषोर्भवन्ति नानाकृतिमन्ति तेषु

tasyāsthileśo nipapāta yeṣu bhuvaḥ pradeśeṣu kathañcideva . vajrāṇi vajrāyudhanirjigīṣorbhavanti nānākṛtimanti teṣu

In whatever regions of the earth a fragment of that demon's bone fell — he who was eager to conquer even the wielder of the thunderbolt — in those places diamonds of various shapes come into being.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.68.17)

हैममातङ्गसौराष्ट्राः पौण्ड्रकालिङ्गकोशलाः ॥ वेण्वातटाः ससौवीरा वज्रस्याष्ट विहारकाः

haimamātaṅgasaurāṣṭrāḥ pauṇḍrakāliṅgakośalāḥ . veṇvātaṭāḥ sasauvīrā vajrasyāṣṭa vihārakāḥ

Hema, Matanga, Saurashtra, Paundra, Kalinga, Koshala, Venvatata, together with Sauvira — these are the eight sources of the diamond.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.68.18)

आताम्रा हिमशैलजाश्च शशिभा वेण्वातटीयाः स्मृताः सौवीरे त्वसिताब्जमेघसदृशास्ताम्राश्च सौराष्ट्रजाः ॥ कालिङ्गाः कनकावदातरुचिराः पीतप्रभाः कोसले श्यामाः पुंड्रभवा मतंगविषये नात्यन्तपीतप्रभाः

ātāmrā himaśailajāśca śaśibhā veṇvātaṭīyāḥ smṛtāḥ sauvīre tvasitābjameghasadṛśāstāmrāśca saurāṣṭrajāḥ . kāliṅgāḥ kanakāvadātarucirāḥ pītaprabhāḥ kosale śyāmāḥ puṁḍrabhavā mataṁgaviṣaye nātyantapītaprabhāḥ

Diamonds from Venvatata, born of the snowy mountains, are remembered as coppery and moon-like; in Sauvira, they resemble a blue lotus or a cloud; those from Saurashtra are coppery; those from Kalinga are lovely, resembling pure gold; in Koshala, they have a yellow luster; those born in Paundra are dark; and in the region of Matanga, they are not overly yellow.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.68.19)

अत्यर्थं लघु वर्णतश्च गुणवत्पार्श्वेषु सम्यक् समंरेखाबिन्दुकलङ्ककाकपदकत्रासादिभिर्वर्जितम् ॥ लोकेऽस्मिन्परामाणुमात्रमपि यद्वज्रं क्वचिदॄश्यते तस्मिन्देवसमाश्रयो ह्यवितथस्तीक्ष्णाग्रधारं यदि

atyarthaṁ laghu varṇataśca guṇavatpārśveṣu samyak samaṁrekhābindukalaṅkakākapadakatrāsādibhirvarjitam . loke'sminparāmāṇumātramapi yadvajraṁ kvacidṝśyate tasmindevasamāśrayo hyavitathastīkṣṇāgradhāraṁ yadi

Extremely fine-grained, of good color, even and well-formed on every side, free of lines, spots, blemishes, crow's-foot marks, and cracks — if such a diamond is seen anywhere in this world, even the size of a mere atom, and if it has a sharp cutting edge, it is truly and indeed the abode of the gods.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.68.20)

वज्रेषु वर्णयुक्त्या देवानामपि विग्रहः प्रोक्तः ॥ वर्णेभ्यश्च विभागः कार्य्यो वर्णाश्रयादेव

vajreṣu varṇayuktyā devānāmapi vigrahaḥ proktaḥ . varṇebhyaśca vibhāgaḥ kāryyo varṇāśrayādeva

Among diamonds, according to their color, the very forms of the gods are declared. Classification should be made based on color alone.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.68.21)

हरितसितपीतपिंगश्यामास्ताम्राः स्वभावतो रुचिराः ॥ हरिवरुणशक्रहुतवहपितृपतिमरुतां स्वका वर्णाः

haritasitapītapiṁgaśyāmāstāmrāḥ svabhāvato rucirāḥ . harivaruṇaśakrahutavahapitṛpatimarutāṁ svakā varṇāḥ

Green, white, yellow, tawny, dark, and coppery — these are naturally pleasing colors, belonging respectively to Hari (Vishnu), Varuna, Indra, Agni, Yama, and the Wind-gods, each in their own color.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.68.22)

विप्रस्य शङ्खकुमुदस्फटिकावदातः स्यात्क्षत्त्रियस्य शशबभ्रुविलोचनाभः ॥ वैश्यस्य कान्तकदलीदलसन्निकाशः शूद्रस्य धौतकरवालसमानदीप्तिः

viprasya śaṅkhakumudasphaṭikāvadātaḥ syātkṣattriyasya śaśababhruvilocanābhaḥ . vaiśyasya kāntakadalīdalasannikāśaḥ śūdrasya dhautakaravālasamānadīptiḥ

For a brahmin, a diamond the color of a conch, a white lily, or crystal is suitable; for a kshatriya, the color of a hare's eye or tawny; for a vaishya, resembling a lovely plantain-leaf; and for a shudra, one with a luster like a polished sword.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.68.23)

द्वौ वज्रवर्णौ पृथिवीपतीनां सद्भिः प्रदिष्टौ न तु सार्वजन्यौ ॥ यः स्याज्जवाविद्रुमभङ्गशोणो यो वा हरिद्रारसन्निकाशः

dvau vajravarṇau pṛthivīpatīnāṁ sadbhiḥ pradiṣṭau na tu sārvajanyau . yaḥ syājjavāvidrumabhaṅgaśoṇo yo vā haridrārasannikāśaḥ

The wise have prescribed two special colors of diamond for kings, not for ordinary people: that which is red like broken coral or a hibiscus flower, or that which has the color of turmeric juice.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.68.24)

ईशत्वात्सर्ववर्णानां गुणवत्सार्ववर्णिकम्॥ कामतो धारयेद्राजा न त्वन्योऽन्यत्कथञ्चन

īśatvātsarvavarṇānāṁ guṇavatsārvavarṇikam. kāmato dhārayedrājā na tvanyo'nyatkathañcana

Because of his lordship over all colors, a king may, at will, wear an excellent diamond possessing every color together; but no one else may do so under any circumstance.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.68.25)

अधरोत्तरवृत्तया हि यादृक् स्याद्वर्णसङ्करः ॥ ततः कष्टतरो वज्रवर्णानां सङ्करो मतः

adharottaravṛttayā hi yādṛk syādvarṇasaṅkaraḥ . tataḥ kaṣṭataro vajravarṇānāṁ saṅkaro mataḥ

Just as a mixing of colors arises where the upper and lower surfaces meet, so too a mixing of a diamond's colors is held to be even more troublesome.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.68.26)

न च मार्गविभागमात्रवृत्त्या विदुषा वज्रपरिग्रहो विधेयः ॥ गुणवद्गुणसम्पदां विभूतिर्विपरीतो व्यसनोदयस्य हेतुः

na ca mārgavibhāgamātravṛttyā viduṣā vajraparigraho vidheyaḥ . guṇavadguṇasampadāṁ vibhūtirviparīto vyasanodayasya hetuḥ

And the learned should not acquire a diamond merely on the basis of a superficial classification of its type. Endowed with good qualities, it is the source of every excellence and prosperity; but the reverse becomes the cause of misfortune.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.68.27)

एकमपि यस्य श्रृङ्गं विदलितमवलोक्यते विशीर्णं वा ॥ गुणवदपि तन्न धार्य्यं वज्रं श्रेयोऽर्थिभिर्भवने

ekamapi yasya śrṛṅgaṁ vidalitamavalokyate viśīrṇaṁ vā . guṇavadapi tanna dhāryyaṁ vajraṁ śreyo'rthibhirbhavane

A diamond of which even one corner is seen chipped or crumbled — even if otherwise fine — should not be kept in the home by those who seek well-being.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.68.28)

स्फुटिताग्निविशीर्णश्रृङ्गदेशं मलवर्णैः पृषतैरुपेतमध्यम् ॥ न हि वज्रभृतोऽपि वज्रमाशु श्रियमप्याश्रयलालसां न कुर्य्यात्

sphuṭitāgniviśīrṇaśrṛṅgadeśaṁ malavarṇaiḥ pṛṣatairupetamadhyam . na hi vajrabhṛto'pi vajramāśu śriyamapyāśrayalālasāṁ na kuryyāt

A diamond whose edges are cracked, burnt, or crumbled, and whose middle is marked with dirty-colored spots — such a diamond, even for one as strong as thunder, cannot quickly fulfil the desire for prosperity.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.68.29)

यस्यैकदेशः क्षतजावभासो यद्वा भवेल्लोहितवर्णचित्रम् ॥ न तन्न कुर्य्याद्ध्रियमाणमाशु स्वच्छन्दमृत्योरपि जीवितान्तम्

yasyaikadeśaḥ kṣatajāvabhāso yadvā bhavellohitavarṇacitram . na tanna kuryyāddhriyamāṇamāśu svacchandamṛtyorapi jīvitāntam

That of which even one part has a blood-like appearance, or which is marked with a reddish color, should not be worn — it swiftly brings the end of life, even to one otherwise beyond a natural death.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.68.30)

कोट्यः पार्श्वनि धाराश्च षडष्टौ द्वादशेति च ॥ उत्तुङ्गसमतीक्ष्णाग्राः वज्रस्याकरजा गुणाः

koṭyaḥ pārśvani dhārāśca ṣaḍaṣṭau dvādaśeti ca . uttuṅgasamatīkṣṇāgrāḥ vajrasyākarajā guṇāḥ

Countless facets, sides, and streaks — six, eight, or twelve; raised, even, and sharp edges — these are the qualities of a diamond as it comes from the mine.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.68.31)

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

ṣaṭkoṭi śudvamamalaṁ sphuṭatīkṣṇadhāraṁ varṇānvitaṁ laghu supārśvamapetadoṣam . indrāyudhāṁśuvisṛticchuritāntarikṣamevaṁvidhaṁ bhuvi bhavetsulabhaṁ na vajram

Six-sided, pure, spotless, with a clear, sharp edge, of fine color, light, well-formed on the sides, free of faults, seeming to fill the sky with the rays of a rainbow — a diamond of this kind is not easily found on this earth.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.68.32)

तीक्ष्णाग्रं विमलमपेतसर्वदोषं धत्ते यः प्रयततनुः सदैव वज्रम् ॥ वृद्धिस्तं प्रतिदिनमेति यावदायुः स्त्रीसम्पत्सुतधनधान्यगोपशूनाम्

tīkṣṇāgraṁ vimalamapetasarvadoṣaṁ dhatte yaḥ prayatatanuḥ sadaiva vajram . vṛddhistaṁ pratidinameti yāvadāyuḥ strīsampatsutadhanadhānyagopaśūnām

He who, with a disciplined body, ever wears such a sharp-edged, spotless, and fault-free diamond, receives, day by day for as long as he lives, an increase in wife, sons, wealth, grain, cattle, and livestock.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.68.33)

व्यालवह्निविषव्याघ्रतस्कराम्बुभयानि च ॥ दूरात्तस्य निवर्त्तन्ते कर्माण्याथर्वणानि च

vyālavahniviṣavyāghrataskarāmbubhayāni ca . dūrāttasya nivarttante karmāṇyātharvaṇāni ca

The dangers of serpents, fire, poison, tigers, thieves, and water, and harmful Atharvan rites — all these keep their distance from him.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.68.34)

यदि वज्रमपेतसर्वदोषं बिभृयात्तण्डुलविंशतिं गुरुत्वे ॥ मणिशास्त्रविदो वदन्ति तस्य द्विगुणं रूपकलक्षमग्रमूल्यम्

yadi vajramapetasarvadoṣaṁ bibhṛyāttaṇḍulaviṁśatiṁ gurutve . maṇiśāstravido vadanti tasya dviguṇaṁ rūpakalakṣamagramūlyam

If one bears a diamond free of every fault, weighing twenty grains of rice, the knowers of gem-science say its base price is two hundred thousand gold coins.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.68.35)

त्रिभागहीनार्द्धतदर्द्धशेषं त्रयोदशं त्रिंशदतोऽर्द्धभागाः ॥ अशीतिभागोऽथ शतांशभागः सहस्त्रभागोऽल्पसमानयोगः

tribhāgahīnārddhatadarddhaśeṣaṁ trayodaśaṁ triṁśadato'rddhabhāgāḥ . aśītibhāgo'tha śatāṁśabhāgaḥ sahastrabhāgo'lpasamānayogaḥ

A third less, half, half of that remaining, a thirteenth part, then thirty — and half-portions thereafter; then an eightieth part, a hundredth part, and a thousandth part — such is the progressively diminishing valuation.

Verse 36 (garuda.1.68.36)

यत्तण्डुलैर्द्वादशभिः कृतस्य वज्रस्य मूल्यं प्रथमं प्रदिष्टम् ॥ द्वाभ्यां क्रमाद्धानिमुपागतस्य त्वेकावसानस्य विनिश्चयोऽयम्

yattaṇḍulairdvādaśabhiḥ kṛtasya vajrasya mūlyaṁ prathamaṁ pradiṣṭam . dvābhyāṁ kramāddhānimupāgatasya tvekāvasānasya viniścayo'yam

The price first stated is for a diamond weighing twelve grains of rice; for one that has progressively lost two grains at a time, down to a single grain, this is the determination of its reduced value.

Verse 37 (garuda.1.68.37)

न चापि तण्डुलैरेव वज्राणां धारणक्रमः ॥ अष्टाभिः सर्षपैर्गौरैस्तंण्डुलं परिकल्पयेत्

na cāpi taṇḍulaireva vajrāṇāṁ dhāraṇakramaḥ . aṣṭābhiḥ sarṣapairgauraistaṁṇḍulaṁ parikalpayet

But the measuring of diamonds for the purpose of wearing them should not be reckoned by rice-grains alone. One rice-grain should be taken as equal to eight white mustard-seeds.

Verse 38 (garuda.1.68.38)

यत्तु सर्वगुणैर्युक्तं वज्रं तरति वारिणि ॥ रत्नवर्गे समस्तेऽपि तस्य धारणमिष्यते

yattu sarvaguṇairyuktaṁ vajraṁ tarati vāriṇi . ratnavarge samaste'pi tasya dhāraṇamiṣyate

That diamond which, endowed with every good quality, floats upon water — wearing that is most desired among the entire class of gems.

Verse 39 (garuda.1.68.39)

अल्पेनापि हि दोषेण लक्ष्यालक्ष्येण द्वषितम् ॥ स्व (स) मूल्याद्दशमं भागं वज्रं लभति मानवः

alpenāpi hi doṣeṇa lakṣyālakṣyeṇa dvaṣitam . sva (sa) mūlyāddaśamaṁ bhāgaṁ vajraṁ labhati mānavaḥ

With even a slight fault — whether visible or invisible — a diamond loses one-tenth of its value.

Verse 40 (garuda.1.68.40)

प्रकटानेकदोषस्य स्वल्पस्य महतोऽपि वा ॥ स्व (सु) मूल्याच्छतशो भागो वज्रस्य न विधीयते

prakaṭānekadoṣasya svalpasya mahato'pi vā . sva (su) mūlyācchataśo bhāgo vajrasya na vidhīyate

For one with many obvious faults, whether small or even large, not even a hundredth part of its full value is prescribed.

Verse 41 (garuda.1.68.41)

स्पष्टदोषमलङ्कारे वज्रं यद्यपि दृश्यते ॥ रत्नानां परिकर्मार्थं मूल्यं तस्य भवेल्लघु

spaṣṭadoṣamalaṅkāre vajraṁ yadyapi dṛśyate . ratnānāṁ parikarmārthaṁ mūlyaṁ tasya bhavellaghu

If a diamond with an obvious fault is seen used in an ornament, its price, for the purpose of gem-setting work, should be low.

Verse 42 (garuda.1.68.42)

प्रथमं गुणसम्पदाभ्युपेतं प्रतिबद्धं समुपैति यच्च दोषम् ॥ अलमाभरणेन तस्य राज्ञो गुणहीनोऽपि मणिर्न भूषणाय

prathamaṁ guṇasampadābhyupetaṁ pratibaddhaṁ samupaiti yacca doṣam . alamābharaṇena tasya rājño guṇahīno'pi maṇirna bhūṣaṇāya

That which is endowed with excellent qualities at first, but later acquires a fault, is not fit for adornment — a gem devoid of merit is not suitable for ornamentation, even for a king.

Verse 43 (garuda.1.68.43)

नार्य्या वज्रमधार्य्यं गुणवदपि सुतप्रसूतिमिच्छन्त्या ॥ अन्यत्र दीर्घाचिपिटत्र्यश्राद्यगुणैर्वियुक्ताच्च

nāryyā vajramadhāryyaṁ guṇavadapi sutaprasūtimicchantyā . anyatra dīrghācipiṭatryaśrādyaguṇairviyuktācca

A woman desiring the birth of a son should not wear a diamond even a fine one, except one free from the faults of being too long, flat, three-cornered, and the like.

Verse 44 (garuda.1.68.44)

अयसा पुष्परागेण तथा गोमेदकेन च ॥ वैदूर्य्यस्फटिकाभ्यां च काचैश्चापि पृथग्विधैः

ayasā puṣparāgeṇa tathā gomedakena ca . vaidūryyasphaṭikābhyāṁ ca kācaiścāpi pṛthagvidhaiḥ

With iron, with pushparaga (topaz), with gomedaka (hessonite), with vaidurya and crystal, and with various kinds of glass as well,

Verse 45 (garuda.1.68.45)

प्रतिरूपाणि कुर्वन्ति वज्रस्य कुशला जनाः ॥ परीक्षा तेषु कर्त्तव्या विद्वद्भिः सुपरीक्षकैः

pratirūpāṇi kurvanti vajrasya kuśalā janāḥ . parīkṣā teṣu karttavyā vidvadbhiḥ suparīkṣakaiḥ

skilled people make imitations of diamonds. These should be examined by learned, skilled examiners.

Verse 46 (garuda.1.68.46)

क्षारोल्लेखनशाणाभिस्तेषां कार्य्यं परीक्षणम् ॥ पृथिव्यां यानि रत्नानि ये चान्ये लोहधातवः

kṣārollekhanaśāṇābhisteṣāṁ kāryyaṁ parīkṣaṇam . pṛthivyāṁ yāni ratnāni ye cānye lohadhātavaḥ

Their examination should be made by caustic substances, by scratching, and by a whetstone. Whatever gems exist on earth, and whatever other metals there are,

Verse 47 (garuda.1.68.47)

सर्वाणि विलिखेद्वज्रं तच्च तैर्न विलिख्यते ॥ गुरुता सर्वरत्नानां गौरवाधारकारणम्

sarvāṇi vilikhedvajraṁ tacca tairna vilikhyate . gurutā sarvaratnānāṁ gauravādhārakāraṇam

the diamond scratches all of them, but it is not scratched by them. The heaviness of every other gem is the reason for its weightiness;

Verse 48 (garuda.1.68.48)

वज्रे तां वैपरीत्येन सूरयः परिचक्षते ॥ जातिरजातिं विलिखति जातिं विलिखंति वज्रकुरुविन्दाः

vajre tāṁ vaiparītyena sūrayaḥ paricakṣate . jātirajātiṁ vilikhati jātiṁ vilikhaṁti vajrakuruvindāḥ

The wise describe the diamond's quality as the opposite of this (that is, it is comparatively light). A genuine diamond scratches a false one; genuine diamonds and rubies (kuruvinda) scratch one another,

Verse 49 (garuda.1.68.49)

वज्रैर्वज्रं विलिखति नान्येन विलिख्यते वज्रम् ॥ वज्राणि मुक्तामणयो ये च केचन जातयः

vajrairvajraṁ vilikhati nānyena vilikhyate vajram . vajrāṇi muktāmaṇayo ye ca kecana jātayaḥ

but only diamonds scratch diamonds — a diamond is scratched by nothing else. Diamonds, pearls, and gems, and whatever other kinds there are,

Verse 50 (garuda.1.68.50)

न तेषां प्रतिबद्धानां भा भवत्यूर्द्ध्वगामिनी ॥ तिर्य्यक्क्षतत्वात्केषाञ्चित्कथञ्चिद्यदि जायते ॥ तिर्य्यग्विलिख्यमानानां सा (स) पार्श्वेषु विहन्यते

na teṣāṁ pratibaddhānāṁ bhā bhavatyūrddhvagāminī . tiryyakkṣatatvātkeṣāñcitkathañcidyadi jāyate . tiryyagvilikhyamānānāṁ sā (sa) pārśveṣu vihanyate

when they are strung together, their light does not travel continuously upward. If in some this occurs, somehow, because of a diagonal flaw, then in those scratched diagonally that alignment is disrupted at the sides.

Verse 51 (garuda.1.68.51)

यद्यपि विशीर्णकोटिः स बिन्दुरेखान्वितो विवर्णो वा ॥ तदपि धनधान्यपुत्रान्करोति सेन्द्रायुधो वज्रः

yadyapi viśīrṇakoṭiḥ sa bindurekhānvito vivarṇo vā . tadapi dhanadhānyaputrānkaroti sendrāyudho vajraḥ

Even if a diamond has a chipped corner, is marked with a spot or line, or is discolored — still, if it possesses a rainbow-like radiance, that diamond bestows wealth, grain, and sons.

Verse 52 (garuda.1.68.52)

सौदामिनीविस्फुरिताभिरामं राजा यथोक्तं कुलिशं दधानः ॥ पराक्रमाक्रान्तपरप्रतापः समस्तसामन्तभुवं भुनक्ति

saudāminīvisphuritābhirāmaṁ rājā yathoktaṁ kuliśaṁ dadhānaḥ . parākramākrāntaparapratāpaḥ samastasāmantabhuvaṁ bhunakti

The king who bears the diamond as prescribed by scripture, lovely as a flash of lightning, his prowess overwhelming the might of his enemies, rules over the lands of all his vassal lords.