The Examination of the Padmaraga (Ruby)

Verse 1 (garuda.1.70.1)

॥सूत उवाच ॥ दिवाकरस्तस्य महामहिम्नो महासुरस्योत्तमरत्नबीजम् ॥ असृग्गृहीत्वा चरितुं प्रतस्थे निस्त्रिंशनीलेन नभः स्थलेन

.sūta uvāca . divākarastasya mahāmahimno mahāsurasyottamaratnabījam . asṛggṛhītvā carituṁ pratasthe nistriṁśanīlena nabhaḥ sthalena

Suta said: Taking up the excellent blood-born gem-seed of that mighty demon, the sun set out to roam the sky with his sword-dark chariot.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.70.2)

जेत्त्रा सुराणां समरेष्वजस्रं वीर्य्यावलेपोद्धतमानसेन ॥ लङ्काधिपेनार्द्धपथे समेत्य स्वर्भानुनेव प्रसभं निरुद्धः

jettrā surāṇāṁ samareṣvajasraṁ vīryyāvalepoddhatamānasena . laṅkādhipenārddhapathe sametya svarbhānuneva prasabhaṁ niruddhaḥ

The sun, ceaseless conqueror of the gods in battle, his mind elated with pride in his own valor, was suddenly obstructed midway by the lord of Lanka, just as by the eclipse-demon Rahu.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.70.3)

तत्सिंहलीचारुनितम्बबिम्बविक्षो भितागाधमहाह्रदायाम् ॥ पूगद्रुमाबद्धतटद्वयायां मुमोच सूर्य्यः सरिदुत्तमायाम्

tatsiṁhalīcārunitambabimbavikṣo bhitāgādhamahāhradāyām . pūgadrumābaddhataṭadvayāyāṁ mumoca sūryyaḥ sariduttamāyām

There, the sun released it into an excellent river, its deep unfathomable pool seemingly mirrored by the lovely hips of Sinhala women, its two banks lined with areca-palm trees.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.70.4)

ततः प्रभृति सा गङ्गा तुल्यपुण्यफलोदया ॥ नाम्ना रावणगङ्गेति प्रथिमानमुपागता

tataḥ prabhṛti sā gaṅgā tulyapuṇyaphalodayā . nāmnā rāvaṇagaṅgeti prathimānamupāgatā

From that time on, that Ganga, granting equal merit and fruit, became renowned by the name 'Ravana-Ganga.'

Verse 5 (garuda.1.70.5)

ततः प्रभृत्येव च शर्वरीषु कूलानि रत्नैर्निचितानि तस्याः ॥ सुवर्णनाराचशतैरिवान्तर्बहिः प्रदीप्तैर्निशितानि भान्ति

tataḥ prabhṛtyeva ca śarvarīṣu kūlāni ratnairnicitāni tasyāḥ . suvarṇanārācaśatairivāntarbahiḥ pradīptairniśitāni bhānti

From that time onward, its banks, studded with gems, shine at night like hundreds of sharp golden arrows glowing within and without.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.70.6)

तस्यास्तटेपूज्ज्वचारुरागा भवन्ति तोयेषु च पद्मरागाः ॥ सौगन्धिकोत्थाः कुरुविन्दजाश्च महागुणाः स्फाटिकसंप्रसूताः

tasyāstaṭepūjjvacārurāgā bhavanti toyeṣu ca padmarāgāḥ . saugandhikotthāḥ kuruvindajāśca mahāguṇāḥ sphāṭikasaṁprasūtāḥ

On its banks and in its waters arise exceedingly beautiful, radiant padmaraga (rubies) — some from saugandhika, some from kuruvinda (corundum), of great quality, and some produced from crystal —

Verse 7 (garuda.1.70.7)

बन्धू कगुंजासकलेन्द्रगोपजवासमासृक्समवर्णशोभाः ॥ भ्राजिष्णवो दाडिमबीजवर्णास्तथापरे किशुकपुष्पभासः

bandhū kaguṁjāsakalendragopajavāsamāsṛksamavarṇaśobhāḥ . bhrājiṣṇavo dāḍimabījavarṇāstathāpare kiśukapuṣpabhāsaḥ

with a beauty matching the color of the bandhuka flower, the gunja-seed, the whole indragopa insect, and blood; radiant, colored like pomegranate seeds; and others with the hue of palash blossoms;

Verse 8 (garuda.1.70.8)

सिन्दुरपद्मोत्पलकुंकुमानां लाक्षारसस्यापि समानवर्णः ॥ सांद्रेऽपि रागे प्रभया स्वयैव भान्ति स्वलक्ष्याः स्फुटमध्यशोभाः

sindurapadmotpalakuṁkumānāṁ lākṣārasasyāpi samānavarṇaḥ . sāṁdre'pi rāge prabhayā svayaiva bhānti svalakṣyāḥ sphuṭamadhyaśobhāḥ

matching the color of vermilion, lotus, blue lotus, kumkum, and even lac-juice — even in a dense hue they shine with their own radiance, their clear beauty distinct;

Verse 9 (garuda.1.70.9)

भानोश्च भासामनुवेधयोगामासाद्य रशमि प्रकरेण दूरम् ॥ पार्श्वानि सर्वाण्यनुरञ्जयन्ति गुणापपन्नाः स्फटिकप्रसूताः

bhānośca bhāsāmanuvedhayogāmāsādya raśami prakareṇa dūram . pārśvāni sarvāṇyanurañjayanti guṇāpapannāḥ sphaṭikaprasūtāḥ

and, catching the sun's rays, they tinge all their surroundings from afar with their own spreading light — such are those quality-endowed gems born of crystal.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.70.10)

कुसुम्भनीलव्यतिमिश्ररागप्रत्युग्ररक्ताबुजतुल्यभासः ॥ तथापरेऽरुष्करकण्टकारिपुष्पत्विषो हिङ्गुलवत्त्विषोऽन्ये

kusumbhanīlavyatimiśrarāgapratyugraraktābujatulyabhāsaḥ . tathāpare'ruṣkarakaṇṭakāripuṣpatviṣo hiṅgulavattviṣo'nye

some, mixed with safflower-red and blue, have the hue of an intensely red lotus; and others have the hue of the arushkara-thorn's flower, or of vermilion;

Verse 11 (garuda.1.70.11)

चकोरपुंस्कोकिलसारसानां नेत्रावभासश्च भवन्ति केचित् ॥ अन्ये पुनः सन्ति च पुष्पितानां तुल्यत्विषा कोकनदोत्तमानाम्

cakorapuṁskokilasārasānāṁ netrāvabhāsaśca bhavanti kecit . anye punaḥ santi ca puṣpitānāṁ tulyatviṣā kokanadottamānām

some have the hue of the eyes of the chakora bird, the male cuckoo, or the crane; and yet others match the hue of blossoming, superior red lotuses.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.70.12)

प्रभावकाठिन्यगुरुत्वयोगैः प्रायः समानाः स्फटिकोद्भवानाम् ॥ आनीलरक्तोत्पलचारुभासः सौगन्धिकोत्था मणयो भवन्ति

prabhāvakāṭhinyagurutvayogaiḥ prāyaḥ samānāḥ sphaṭikodbhavānām . ānīlaraktotpalacārubhāsaḥ saugandhikotthā maṇayo bhavanti

In brilliance, hardness, and weight, these are mostly similar to crystal-born gems; those arising from saugandhika have the lovely hue of a dark-red-tinged blue lotus.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.70.13)

कामं तु रागः कुरुविन्दजेषु स नैव यादृक् स्फटिकोद्भवेषु ॥ निरर्चिषोऽन्तर्बहुला भवन्ति प्रभाववन्तोऽपि नतैः समस्तैः

kāmaṁ tu rāgaḥ kuruvindajeṣu sa naiva yādṛk sphaṭikodbhaveṣu . nirarciṣo'ntarbahulā bhavanti prabhāvavanto'pi nataiḥ samastaiḥ

In the kuruvinda-born stones, the color is genuinely intense, unlike in the crystal-born ones; the latter tend to be largely without inner fire, though they may still appear to possess some brilliance from every angle.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.70.14)

ये तु रावणगङ्गायां जायन्ते कुरुविन्दकाः ॥ पद्मरागघनं रागं बिभ्राणाः स्फटिकार्चिषः

ye tu rāvaṇagaṅgāyāṁ jāyante kuruvindakāḥ . padmarāgaghanaṁ rāgaṁ bibhrāṇāḥ sphaṭikārciṣaḥ

The kuruvinda-stones that arise in the Ravana-Ganga bear a color as dense as the padmaraga, while yet possessing the brilliance of crystal;

Verse 15 (garuda.1.70.15)

वर्णानुयायिनस्तेषा मान्ध्रदेशे तथा परे ॥ न जायन्ते हि ये केचिन्मूल्यलेशमवाप्नुयुः

varṇānuyāyinasteṣā māndhradeśe tathā pare . na jāyante hi ye kecinmūlyaleśamavāpnuyuḥ

those that follow this same color-standard, in the Andhra country and elsewhere, likewise occur; whichever do not meet it obtain hardly any value.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.70.16)

तथैव स्फाटिकोत्थानां देशे तुम्बुरुसंज्ञके ॥ सधर्माणः प्रजायन्ते स्वल्पमूल्या हि ते स्मृताः

tathaiva sphāṭikotthānāṁ deśe tumburusaṁjñake . sadharmāṇaḥ prajāyante svalpamūlyā hi te smṛtāḥ

Likewise, the crystal-born gems arising in the country called Tumburu are of a similar nature, but they are remembered as being of very low value.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.70.17)

वर्णाधिक्यं गुरुत्वं च स्निग्धता समताच्छता ॥ अर्चिष्मत्ता महत्ता च मणीनां गुणसंग्रहः

varṇādhikyaṁ gurutvaṁ ca snigdhatā samatācchatā . arciṣmattā mahattā ca maṇīnāṁ guṇasaṁgrahaḥ

Abundant color, weight, glossiness, evenness, clarity, brilliance, and largeness — these are the collected virtues of gems.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.70.18)

ये कर्करच्छिद्रमलोपदिग्धाः प्रभाविमुक्ताः परुषा विवर्णाः ॥ न ते प्रशस्ता मणयो भवन्ति समानतो जातिगुणैः समस्तैः

ye karkaracchidramalopadigdhāḥ prabhāvimuktāḥ paruṣā vivarṇāḥ . na te praśastā maṇayo bhavanti samānato jātiguṇaiḥ samastaiḥ

Those that are gritty, holed, smeared with impurity, devoid of brilliance, rough, or discolored — such gems, however similar in class and every other quality, are not to be praised.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.70.19)

दोषोपसृष्टं मणिमप्रबोधाद्विभर्त्ति यः कश्चन कञ्चिदेव ॥ तं शोकचिन्तामयमृत्युवित्तनाशादयो दोषगणा भजंते

doṣopasṛṣṭaṁ maṇimaprabodhādvibhartti yaḥ kaścana kañcideva . taṁ śokacintāmayamṛtyuvittanāśādayo doṣagaṇā bhajaṁte

Whoever, through ignorance, wears a fault-ridden gem — a host of misfortunes befalls him: grief, worry, death, loss of wealth, and the like.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.70.20)

कामं चारुतराः पंच जातीना प्रतिरूपकाः ॥ विजा तयः प्रयत्नेन विद्वांस्तनुपलक्षयेत्

kāmaṁ cārutarāḥ paṁca jātīnā pratirūpakāḥ . vijā tayaḥ prayatnena vidvāṁstanupalakṣayet

There are five exceedingly lovely counterfeit types resembling the genuine kinds, which the wise should carefully discern for themselves through effort.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.70.21)

कलशपुरोद्भवसिंहलतुम्बुरुदेशोत्थमुक्तपाणीयाः ॥ श्रीपूर्णकाश्च सदृशा विजातयः पद्मरागाणाम्

kalaśapurodbhavasiṁhalatumburudeśotthamuktapāṇīyāḥ . śrīpūrṇakāśca sadṛśā vijātayaḥ padmarāgāṇām

Those born in Kalashapura, in Sinhala, in the Tumburu region, and in Mukta-paniya, and Shripurnaka — these are the counterfeit kinds resembling padmaraga.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.70.22)

तुषोपसर्गात्कलशाभिधानमाताम्रभावादपि तुम्बुरूत्थम् ॥ कार्ष्ण्यात्तथा सिंहलदेशजातं मुक्ताभिधानं नभसः स्वभावात्

tuṣopasargātkalaśābhidhānamātāmrabhāvādapi tumburūttham . kārṣṇyāttathā siṁhaladeśajātaṁ muktābhidhānaṁ nabhasaḥ svabhāvāt

By reason of a husk-like defect, the one from Kalasha bears its name; by a coppery hue, the one from Tumburu; by its blackishness, the Sinhala-born one is called 'Mukta'; and by its sky-like natural pallor,

Verse 23 (garuda.1.70.23)

श्रीपूर्णकं दीप्तिविनाकृतत्वाद्विजातिलिङ्गाश्रय एव भेदः ॥ यस्ताम्रिकां पुष्यति पद्मरागो योगात्तुषाणामिव पूर्णमध्यः

śrīpūrṇakaṁ dīptivinākṛtatvādvijātiliṅgāśraya eva bhedaḥ . yastāmrikāṁ puṣyati padmarāgo yogāttuṣāṇāmiva pūrṇamadhyaḥ

Shripurnaka is named for its lack of brilliance — this distinction serves purely to identify the counterfeit type. That padmaraga which, as if from a husk-like admixture, bears a coppery tinge appearing full in the middle,

Verse 24 (garuda.1.70.24)

स्नेहप्रदिग्धः प्रतिभाति यश्च यो वा प्रघृष्टः प्रजहाति दीप्तिम् ॥ आक्रान्तमूर्द्धा च तथाङ्गुलिभ्यां यः कालिकां पार्श्वगतां बिभर्त्ति

snehapradigdhaḥ pratibhāti yaśca yo vā praghṛṣṭaḥ prajahāti dīptim . ākrāntamūrddhā ca tathāṅgulibhyāṁ yaḥ kālikāṁ pārśvagatāṁ bibhartti

which appears smeared with an oily film, or which, when rubbed, loses its brilliance; whose crown seems compressed by the fingers, or which bears blackness at its side,

Verse 25 (garuda.1.70.25)

संप्राप्य चोत्क्षिप्य यथानुवृत्तिं विभर्तियः सर्वगुणानतीव ॥ तुल्यप्रमाणस्य च तुल्यजातेर्यो वा गुरुत्वेन भवेत्तु तुल्यः ॥ प्राप्यापि रत्नाकरजा स्वजातिं लक्षेद्गुरुत्वेन गुणेन विद्वान्

saṁprāpya cotkṣipya yathānuvṛttiṁ vibhartiyaḥ sarvaguṇānatīva . tulyapramāṇasya ca tulyajāteryo vā gurutvena bhavettu tulyaḥ . prāpyāpi ratnākarajā svajātiṁ lakṣedgurutvena guṇena vidvān

and one which, upon being obtained and tossed, is thoroughly examined according to custom, bearing all its qualities in mind; comparing gems of equal size, equal kind, and equal weight — the wise should discern the genuine mine-born stone by weight and quality alone.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.70.26)

अप्रणश्यति सन्देहे शाणे तु परिलेखयेत् ॥ सु(स्व) जातकसमुत्थेन लिखित्वापि परस्परम्

apraṇaśyati sandehe śāṇe tu parilekhayet . su(sva) jātakasamutthena likhitvāpi parasparam

If the doubt does not clear, one should test it by scratching on a whetstone — even by scratching stones of the same class against one another,

Verse 27 (garuda.1.70.27)

वज्रं वा कुरुविन्दं वा विमुच्यानेन केनचित् ॥ नाशक्यं लेखनं कर्त्तुं पद्मरागेन्द्रनीलयोः

vajraṁ vā kuruvindaṁ vā vimucyānena kenacit . nāśakyaṁ lekhanaṁ karttuṁ padmarāgendranīlayoḥ

except with the diamond or kuruvinda, scratching cannot be performed on padmaraga or indranila (sapphire) with any other stone.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.70.28)

जात्यस्य सर्वेऽपि मणेर्न जातु विजातयः सन्ति समानवर्णाः ॥ तथापि नानाकरणार्थमेव भेदप्रकारः परमः प्रदिष्टः

jātyasya sarve'pi maṇerna jātu vijātayaḥ santi samānavarṇāḥ . tathāpi nānākaraṇārthameva bhedaprakāraḥ paramaḥ pradiṣṭaḥ

No counterfeit of any genuine gem is ever precisely the same color; nevertheless, purely for the identification of the various mines, this excellent classification has been set forth.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.70.29)

गुणोपपन्नेन सहावबद्धोमेणिर्न धार्यो विगुणो हि जात्या ॥ न कौस्तुभेनापि सहावबद्धं विद्वान्विजातिं बिभृयात्कदाचित्

guṇopapannena sahāvabaddhomeṇirna dhāryo viguṇo hi jātyā . na kaustubhenāpi sahāvabaddhaṁ vidvānvijātiṁ bibhṛyātkadācit

A gem lacking quality should not be bound and worn together with one endowed with quality, even if of the same genuine class; the wise should never wear a counterfeit gem bound even together with the Kaustubha.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.70.30)

चाण्डाल एकोऽपि यथा द्विजातीन्समेत्य भूरीनपि हन्त्ययत्नात् ॥ अथो मणीन्भूरिगुणोपपन्नाञ्शक्रोति विप्लावयितुं विजात्यः

cāṇḍāla eko'pi yathā dvijātīnsametya bhūrīnapi hantyayatnāt . atho maṇīnbhūriguṇopapannāñśakroti viplāvayituṁ vijātyaḥ

Just as a single outcaste, mingling among many twice-born people, effortlessly defiles them all, so too counterfeit gems can corrupt even genuine stones rich in good qualities.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.70.31)

सपत्नमध्येऽपि कृताधिवासं प्रमादवृत्तावपि वर्त्तमानम् ॥ न पद्मरागस्य महागुणस्य भर्त्तारमापत्स्पृशतीह काचित्

sapatnamadhye'pi kṛtādhivāsaṁ pramādavṛttāvapi varttamānam . na padmarāgasya mahāguṇasya bharttāramāpatspṛśatīha kācit

No calamity whatsoever touches, in this world, the bearer of a great padmaraga — even one dwelling among rivals or behaving carelessly.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.70.32)

दोषोपसर्गप्रभवाश्च ये ते नोपद्रवास्तं समभिद्रवन्ति ॥ गुणैः समुत्तेजितचारुरागं यः पद्मरागं प्रयतो बिभर्त्ति

doṣopasargaprabhavāśca ye te nopadravāstaṁ samabhidravanti . guṇaiḥ samuttejitacārurāgaṁ yaḥ padmarāgaṁ prayato bibhartti

The misfortunes that arise from faults and afflictions do not assail one who, self-controlled, wears a padmaraga whose lovely color is heightened by its own qualities.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.70.33)

वज्रस्य यत्तण्डुलसंख्ययोक्तं मूल्यं समुत्पादितगौरवस्य ॥ तत्पद्मरागस्य महागुणस्य तन्माषकल्पाकलितस्य मूल्यम्

vajrasya yattaṇḍulasaṁkhyayoktaṁ mūlyaṁ samutpāditagauravasya . tatpadmarāgasya mahāguṇasya tanmāṣakalpākalitasya mūlyam

Whatever price has been declared for the diamond, reckoned by the count of rice-grains for its established weight — that same is the price of the greatly excellent padmaraga, likewise reckoned by the measure of mashas.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.70.34)

वर्णदाप्त्यपपन्नं हि मणिरत्नं प्रशस्यते ॥ ताभ्यामीषदपि भ्रष्टं मणिमूल्यात्प्रहीयते

varṇadāptyapapannaṁ hi maṇiratnaṁ praśasyate . tābhyāmīṣadapi bhraṣṭaṁ maṇimūlyātprahīyate

A gem-stone endowed with color and brilliance is indeed praised; but should it fall short in either of these, even slightly, its value diminishes.