The Examination of the Marakata (Emerald)

Verse 1 (garuda.1.71.1)

॥सूत उवाच ॥ दानवाधिपतेः पित्तमादाय भुजगाधिपः ॥ द्विधा कुर्वन्निव व्योम सत्वरं वासुकिर्ययौ

.sūta uvāca . dānavādhipateḥ pittamādāya bhujagādhipaḥ . dvidhā kurvanniva vyoma satvaraṁ vāsukiryayau

Suta said: Having seized the bile of the lord of the demons, Vasuki, king of serpents, as if splitting the sky in two, departed swiftly.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.71.2)

स तदा स्वशिरोरत्नप्रभादीप्ते नभोऽम्बुधौ ॥ राजतः स महानेकः खण्डसेतुरिवाबभौ

sa tadā svaśiroratnaprabhādīpte nabho'mbudhau . rājataḥ sa mahānekaḥ khaṇḍaseturivābabhau

He then, in the celestial ocean lit up by the radiance of the gem upon his own head, shone like one great, broken causeway of silver.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.71.3)

ततः पक्षनिपातेन संहरन्निव रोदसी ॥ गरुत्मान्पन्नगेन्द्रस्य प्रहर्त्तुमुपचक्रमे

tataḥ pakṣanipātena saṁharanniva rodasī . garutmānpannagendrasya praharttumupacakrame

Then, with the beating of his wings as if tearing heaven and earth apart, Garuda began to strike at the serpent-king.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.71.4)

सहसैव मुमोच तत्फणीन्द्रः सुरसाभ्यक्ततुरुष्क (रष्क) पादपायाम् ॥ कलिकाघनगन्धवासिता यां वरमाणिक्यगिरेरुपत्यकायाम्

sahasaiva mumoca tatphaṇīndraḥ surasābhyaktaturuṣka (raṣka) pādapāyām . kalikāghanagandhavāsitā yāṁ varamāṇikyagirerupatyakāyām

That lord of serpents suddenly released it, upon the slope of an excellent ruby-mountain, fragrant with the dense scent of buds, its trees anointed with divine incense-resin.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.71.5)

तस्य प्रपातसमनन्तरकालमेव तद्वद्वरालयमतीत्य रमासमीपे ॥ स्थानं क्षितेरुपपयोनिधितीरलेखंयां वरमाणिक्यगिरेरुपत्यकायाम्

tasya prapātasamanantarakālameva tadvadvarālayamatītya ramāsamīpe . sthānaṁ kṣiterupapayonidhitīralekhaṁyāṁ varamāṇikyagirerupatyakāyām

Immediately after its fall, it passed beyond that same excellent abode, near the goddess of prosperity, reaching the slope of that fine ruby-mountain along the ocean's shoreline.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.71.6)

तत्रैव किञ्चित्पततस्तु पित्तादुपेत्य जग्राह ततो गरुत्मान् ॥ मूर्च्छापरीतः सहसैव घोणारन्ध्रद्वयेन प्रमुमोच सर्वम्

tatraiva kiñcitpatatastu pittādupetya jagrāha tato garutmān . mūrcchāparītaḥ sahasaiva ghoṇārandhradvayena pramumoca sarvam

There, as the bile was still falling further, Garuda approached and seized it; but overcome by faintness, he immediately expelled it all through his two nostrils.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.71.7)

तत्राकठोरशुककण्ठशिरीषपुष्पखद्योतपृष्ठचरशाद्वलशैवलानाम् ॥ कल्हारशष्पकभुजङ्गभुजाञ्च पत्रप्राप्तत्विषो मरकताः शुभदा भवन्ति

tatrākaṭhoraśukakaṇṭhaśirīṣapuṣpakhadyotapṛṣṭhacaraśādvalaśaivalānām . kalhāraśaṣpakabhujaṅgabhujāñca patraprāptatviṣo marakatāḥ śubhadā bhavanti

There, taking on colors like a parrot's tender throat, the shirisha flower, a firefly's back, the moss along a meadow's edge, the water-lily and fresh young grass, and a serpent's arm, arise the emeralds — auspicious ones.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.71.8)

तद्यत्र भोगीन्द्रभुजाभियुक्तं पपात पित्तं दितिजाधिपस्य ॥ तस्याकरस्यातितरां स देशो दुः खोपलभ्यश्च गुणैश्च युक्तः

tadyatra bhogīndrabhujābhiyuktaṁ papāta pittaṁ ditijādhipasya . tasyākarasyātitarāṁ sa deśo duḥ khopalabhyaśca guṇaiśca yuktaḥ

Where the demon-lord's bile fell, enfolded in the serpent-king's coils, that region of the mine is exceedingly difficult to reach, yet endowed with excellent qualities.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.71.9)

तस्मिन्मरकतस्थाने यत्किञ्चिदुपजायते ॥ तत्सर्वं विषरोगाणां प्रशमाय प्रकीर्त्त्यते

tasminmarakatasthāne yatkiñcidupajāyate . tatsarvaṁ viṣarogāṇāṁ praśamāya prakīrttyate

Whatever arises in that emerald-place is declared to be effective for the pacification of poisons and diseases.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.71.10)

सर्वमन्त्रौषधिगणैर्यन्न शक्यं चिकित्सितुम् ॥ महाहिदंष्ट्राप्रभवं विषं तत्तेन शाम्यति

sarvamantrauṣadhigaṇairyanna śakyaṁ cikitsitum . mahāhidaṁṣṭrāprabhavaṁ viṣaṁ tattena śāmyati

That which cannot be cured even by all the multitudes of mantras and herbs — the poison arising from a great serpent's fang — is calmed by this.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.71.11)

अन्यदप्याकरे तत्र यद्दोषैरुपवर्जितम् ॥ जायते तत्पवित्राणामुत्तमं परिकीर्त्तितम्

anyadapyākare tatra yaddoṣairupavarjitam . jāyate tatpavitrāṇāmuttamaṁ parikīrttitam

Also in that same mine, whatever else arises free of faults is declared to be the finest among sacred objects.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.71.12)

अत्यन्तहरितवर्णं कोमलमर्चिर्विभेदजटिलं च ॥ काञ्चनचूर्णस्यान्तः पूर्णमिव लक्ष्यते यच्च

atyantaharitavarṇaṁ komalamarcirvibhedajaṭilaṁ ca . kāñcanacūrṇasyāntaḥ pūrṇamiva lakṣyate yacca

Deeply green in color, soft, radiant, intricately veined within, and appearing as if filled inside with gold-dust,

Verse 13 (garuda.1.71.13)

युक्तं संस्थानगुणैः समरागं गौरवेण न विहीनम् ॥ सवितुः करसंस्पर्शाच्छुरयति सर्वाश्रमं दीप्त्या

yuktaṁ saṁsthānaguṇaiḥ samarāgaṁ gauraveṇa na vihīnam . savituḥ karasaṁsparśācchurayati sarvāśramaṁ dīptyā

endowed with good shape and quality, evenly colored, not deficient in weight — such an emerald, touched by the sun's rays, fills every direction with its brilliance.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.71.14)

हित्वा च हरितभावं यस्यान्तर्विनिहिता भवेद्दीप्तिः ॥ अचिरप्रभाप्रभाहतनवशाद्वलसन्निभा भाति

hitvā ca haritabhāvaṁ yasyāntarvinihitā bhaveddīptiḥ . aciraprabhāprabhāhatanavaśādvalasannibhā bhāti

And that whose inner brilliance shines even apart from the green hue — struck by a fresh, gentle inner glow, it shines like fresh young grass.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.71.15)

यच्च मनसः प्रसादं विदधाति निरीक्ष्यमतिमात्रम् ॥ तन्मरकतं महागुणमिति रत्नविदां मनोवृत्तिः

yacca manasaḥ prasādaṁ vidadhāti nirīkṣyamatimātram . tanmarakataṁ mahāguṇamiti ratnavidāṁ manovṛttiḥ

And that which, merely by being looked upon, brings extraordinary serenity to the mind — such an emerald is of great quality, in the judgment of the gem-experts.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.71.16)

वर्णस्याति विभुत्वाद्यस्यान्तः स्वच्छकिरणपरिधानम् ॥ सान्द्रस्निग्धविशुद्धं कोमलबर्हिप्रभादिसमकान्ति

varṇasyāti vibhutvādyasyāntaḥ svacchakiraṇaparidhānam . sāndrasnigdhaviśuddhaṁ komalabarhiprabhādisamakānti

Because of the utmost fullness of its color, whose interior is clothed in clear rays, dense, glossy, pure, with a luster like a soft peacock-feather's,

Verse 17 (garuda.1.71.17)

वर्णोज्ज्वलया कान्त्या सान्द्राकारो विभासया भाति ॥ तदपि गुणवत्संज्ञामाप्नोति हि यादृशी पूर्वम्

varṇojjvalayā kāntyā sāndrākāro vibhāsayā bhāti . tadapi guṇavatsaṁjñāmāpnoti hi yādṛśī pūrvam

shining with a dense, brilliant form through the beauty of its radiant color — this too attains the name 'endowed with quality,' just as described before.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.71.18)

शबलकठोरमलिनं रूक्षं पाषाणकर्करोपेतम् ॥ दिग्धं शिलाजतुना मरकतमेवंविधं विगुणम्

śabalakaṭhoramalinaṁ rūkṣaṁ pāṣāṇakarkaropetam . digdhaṁ śilājatunā marakatamevaṁvidhaṁ viguṇam

Mottled, hard, dirty, rough, gritty with stony grains, smeared as if with bituminous resin — an emerald of this kind is faulty.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.71.19)

यत्सन्धिशोषितं रत्नमन्यन्मरकताद्भवेत् ॥ श्रेयस्कामैर्न तद्धार्य्यं क्रेतव्यं वा कथञ्चन

yatsandhiśoṣitaṁ ratnamanyanmarakatādbhavet . śreyaskāmairna taddhāryyaṁ kretavyaṁ vā kathañcana

That gem which has been dried at its joints and made into something other than true emerald — those desiring well-being should neither wear it nor purchase it under any circumstance.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.71.20)

भल्लातकी पुत्रिका च तद्वर्णसमयोगतः ॥ मणेर्मरकतस्यैते लक्षणीया विजातयः

bhallātakī putrikā ca tadvarṇasamayogataḥ . maṇermarakatasyaite lakṣaṇīyā vijātayaḥ

The bhallataki (marking-nut dye) and the putrika (glass) — by the similarity of their color — these are the counterfeit kinds to be recognized as imitations of the emerald.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.71.21)

क्षौमेण वाससा मृष्टा दीप्तिं त्यजति पुत्रिका ॥ लाघवेनैव काचस्य शक्या कर्त्तुं विभावना

kṣaumeṇa vāsasā mṛṣṭā dīptiṁ tyajati putrikā . lāghavenaiva kācasya śakyā karttuṁ vibhāvanā

Rubbed with a linen cloth, the putrika (glass) loses its brilliance; and by its lightness alone, the nature of glass can be discerned.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.71.22)

कस्यचिदनेकरूपैर्मरकतमनुगच्छतोऽपि गुणवर्णैः ॥ भल्लातकस्यस्वनात्तु वैषम्यमुपैति वर्णस्य

kasyacidanekarūpairmarakatamanugacchato'pi guṇavarṇaiḥ . bhallātakasyasvanāttu vaiṣamyamupaiti varṇasya

Even for some imitation that follows the emerald in many of its qualities and colors, the unevenness of its color becomes apparent through the sound of the bhallataka test.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.71.23)

वज्राणि मुक्ताः सन्त्यन्ये ये च केचिद्द्विजातयः ॥ तेषां नाप्रतिबद्धानां भा भवत्यूर्द्ध्वगामिनी

vajrāṇi muktāḥ santyanye ye ca keciddvijātayaḥ . teṣāṁ nāpratibaddhānāṁ bhā bhavatyūrddhvagāminī

Diamonds, pearls, and whatever other genuine kinds there are, when left unstrung, their light does not travel continuously upward.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.71.24)

ऋजुत्वाच्चैव केषाञ्चित्कथञ्चिदुपजायते ॥ तिर्य्यगालोच्यमानानां सद्यश्चैव प्रणश्यति

ṛjutvāccaiva keṣāñcitkathañcidupajāyate . tiryyagālocyamānānāṁ sadyaścaiva praṇaśyati

In some, because of their straightness, this alignment does sometimes occur; but when viewed diagonally, it vanishes at once.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.71.25)

स्नानाचमनजप्येषु रक्षामन्त्रक्रियाविधौ ॥ ददद्भिर्गोहिरण्यानि कुर्वद्भिः साधनानि च

snānācamanajapyeṣu rakṣāmantrakriyāvidhau . dadadbhirgohiraṇyāni kurvadbhiḥ sādhanāni ca

During bathing, sipping of water, and recitation, in the rites of protective mantras, and for those who give cows and gold, and those who prepare ritual implements,

Verse 26 (garuda.1.71.26)

दैवपित्र्यातिथेयेषु गुरुसंपूजनेषु च ॥ बाध्यमानेषु विविधैर्दोषजातैर्विषोद्भवैः

daivapitryātitheyeṣu gurusaṁpūjaneṣu ca . bādhyamāneṣu vividhairdoṣajātairviṣodbhavaiḥ

in rites for the gods, ancestors, and guests, and in the worship of one's guru — when afflicted by various faults arising from poison,

Verse 27 (garuda.1.71.27)

दौषैर्होनं गुणैर्युक्तं काञ्चनप्रतियोजितम् ॥ संग्रामे विचरद्भिश्च धार्य्यं मरकतं बुधैः

dauṣairhonaṁ guṇairyuktaṁ kāñcanapratiyojitam . saṁgrāme vicaradbhiśca dhāryyaṁ marakataṁ budhaiḥ

the wise should wear an emerald free of faults, endowed with good qualities, and set in gold — even those who move about in battle.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.71.28)

तुलया पद्मरागस्य यन्मूल्यमुपजायते ॥ लभतेऽभ्यधिकं तस्माद्गुणैर्मरकतं युतम्

tulayā padmarāgasya yanmūlyamupajāyate . labhate'bhyadhikaṁ tasmādguṇairmarakataṁ yutam

The price that a padmaraga fetches by equal weight — an emerald endowed with equal good qualities obtains a value even greater than that.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.71.29)

तथा च पद्मरागाणां दोषैर्मूल्यं प्रहीयते ॥ ततोऽस्याप्यधिका हानिर्दोषैर्मरकते भवेत्

tathā ca padmarāgāṇāṁ doṣairmūlyaṁ prahīyate . tato'syāpyadhikā hānirdoṣairmarakate bhavet

And just as the value of rubies diminishes through faults, so too, for the emerald, the loss caused by faults is even greater.