The Examination of the Karketana

Verse 1 (garuda.1.75.1)

॥सूत उवाच ॥ वायुर्नखान्दैत्यपतेर्गृहीत्वा चिक्षेप सत्पद्मवनेषु हृष्टः ॥ ततः प्रसूतं पवनोपपन्नं कर्केतनं पूजयतमं पृथिव्याम्

.sūta uvāca . vāyurnakhāndaityapatergṛhītvā cikṣepa satpadmavaneṣu hṛṣṭaḥ . tataḥ prasūtaṁ pavanopapannaṁ karketanaṁ pūjayatamaṁ pṛthivyām

Suta said: The wind-god, having seized the nails of that demon-king, joyfully cast them into lovely lotus-groves; from that, born endowed with the wind's own quality, arose karketana, most worthy of honor upon the earth.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.75.2)

वर्णेन तद्रुधिरसोममधुप्रकाशमाताम्रपीतदहनोज्ज्वलितं विभाति ॥ नीलं पुनः खलु सितं परुषं विभिन्नं व्याध्यादिदोषकरणेन च तद्विभाति

varṇena tadrudhirasomamadhuprakāśamātāmrapītadahanojjvalitaṁ vibhāti . nīlaṁ punaḥ khalu sitaṁ paruṣaṁ vibhinnaṁ vyādhyādidoṣakaraṇena ca tadvibhāti

In color it shines with the hue of blood, the moon, and honey, radiant with coppery-yellow fire; but through the influence of disease and similar faults, it may also appear blue, white, rough, and mottled.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.75.3)

स्निग्धा विशुद्धाः समरागिणश्च आपीतवर्णा गुरवो विचित्राः ॥ त्रासव्रणव्यालविवर्जिताश्च कर्केतनास्ते परमं पवित्राः

snigdhā viśuddhāḥ samarāgiṇaśca āpītavarṇā guravo vicitrāḥ . trāsavraṇavyālavivarjitāśca karketanāste paramaṁ pavitrāḥ

Glossy, pure, evenly colored, yellowish, heavy, richly variegated, free of cracks, blemishes, and grit — such karketana stones are supremely sacred.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.75.4)

पात्रेण काञ्चनमयेन तु वेष्टयित्वा तप्तं यदा हुतवहे भवति प्रकाशम् ॥ रोगप्रणाशनकरं कलिनाशनं तदायुष्करं कुलकरं च सुखप्रदं च

pātreṇa kāñcanamayena tu veṣṭayitvā taptaṁ yadā hutavahe bhavati prakāśam . rogapraṇāśanakaraṁ kalināśanaṁ tadāyuṣkaraṁ kulakaraṁ ca sukhapradaṁ ca

Wrapped in a golden vessel, when heated in fire until it becomes translucent, it destroys disease, dispels misfortune, grants long life, benefits the family, and bestows happiness.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.75.5)

एवंविधं बहुगुणं मणिमावहन्ति कर्केतनं शुभलङ्कृतये नरा ये ॥ ते पूजिता बहुधना बहुबान्धवाश्च नित्योज्ज्वलाः प्रमुदिता अपिते भवन्ति

evaṁvidhaṁ bahuguṇaṁ maṇimāvahanti karketanaṁ śubhalaṅkṛtaye narā ye . te pūjitā bahudhanā bahubāndhavāśca nityojjvalāḥ pramuditā apite bhavanti

Men who wear such a many-virtued karketana gem for auspicious adornment become honored, wealthy, blessed with many kinsmen, ever radiant, and joyful.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.75.6)

एकेऽपनह्य विकृताकुलनीलभासः प्रम्लानरागलुलिताः कलुषा विरूपाः ॥ तेजोऽतिदीप्ति कुलपुष्टिविहीनवर्णाः कर्केतनस्य सदृशं वपुरुद्वहन्ति

eke'panahya vikṛtākulanīlabhāsaḥ pramlānarāgalulitāḥ kaluṣā virūpāḥ . tejo'tidīpti kulapuṣṭivihīnavarṇāḥ karketanasya sadṛśaṁ vapurudvahanti

But some, bound with a distorted, hazy blue hue, faded and dulled in color, sullied and misshapen, devoid of brilliance and of the family-nourishing color, still bear only the outward appearance of karketana.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.75.7)

कर्केतनं यदि परीक्षितवर्णरूपं प्रत्यग्रभास्वरदिवाकरसुप्रकाशम् ॥ तस्योत्तमस्य मणि शास्त्रविदां महिम्ना तुल्यं तु मूल्यमुदितं तुलितस्य कार्य्यम्

karketanaṁ yadi parīkṣitavarṇarūpaṁ pratyagrabhāsvaradivākarasuprakāśam . tasyottamasya maṇi śāstravidāṁ mahimnā tulyaṁ tu mūlyamuditaṁ tulitasya kāryyam

If karketana, upon examination, is found to be of true color and form, brightly shining like the fresh rising sun — for such a gem of the finest kind, according to the knowers of gem-science, the price should be set equal to its weight.