The Examination of the Bhishma Gem

Verse 1 (garuda.1.76.1)

सूत उवाच ॥ हिमवत्युत्तरदेशे वीर्य्यं पतितं सुरद्विषस्तस्य ॥ संप्राप्तमुत्तमानामाकरतां भीष्मरत्नानाम्

sūta uvāca . himavatyuttaradeśe vīryyaṁ patitaṁ suradviṣastasya . saṁprāptamuttamānāmākaratāṁ bhīṣmaratnānām

Suta said: In the northern region of the Himalaya, the vital essence of that enemy of the gods fell, and it became the mine of the finest and most excellent Bhishma-gems.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.76.2)

शुक्लाः शङ्खाब्जनिभाः स्योनाकसन्निभाः प्रभावन्तः ॥ प्रभवन्ति ततस्तरुणा वज्रनिभा भीष्मपाषाणाः

śuklāḥ śaṅkhābjanibhāḥ syonākasannibhāḥ prabhāvantaḥ . prabhavanti tatastaruṇā vajranibhā bhīṣmapāṣāṇāḥ

White, resembling conch and lotus, resembling the coral tree, radiant — from these, in time, arise Bhishma-stones resembling diamond.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.76.3)

हेमादिप्रतिबद्धाः शुद्धमपि श्रद्धया विधत्ते यः ॥ भीष्ममणिं ग्रीवादिषु सुसम्पदं स सर्वदा लभते

hemādipratibaddhāḥ śuddhamapi śraddhayā vidhatte yaḥ . bhīṣmamaṇiṁ grīvādiṣu susampadaṁ sa sarvadā labhate

He who, with faith, wears a pure Bhishma-gem, set together with gold and the like, upon the neck and other places, ever attains great prosperity.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.76.4)

निरीक्ष्य पलायन्ते यं तमरण्यनिवासिनः समीपेऽपि ॥ द्वीपिवृकशरभकुञ्जरसिंहव्याघ्रादयो हिंस्राः

nirīkṣya palāyante yaṁ tamaraṇyanivāsinaḥ samīpe'pi . dvīpivṛkaśarabhakuñjarasiṁhavyāghrādayo hiṁsrāḥ

Beholding it, fierce forest-dwelling creatures — leopards, wolves, sharabhas, elephants, lions, tigers, and the like — flee even from nearby.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.76.5)

तसोयत्कलतष्टतरोर्भवति भयं न चास्तीशमुपहसन्ति ॥ भीष्ममणिर्गुणयुक्तो सम्यक्प्राप्ताङ्गुलीकलत्रत्वः

tasoyatkalataṣṭatarorbhavati bhayaṁ na cāstīśamupahasanti . bhīṣmamaṇirguṇayukto samyakprāptāṅgulīkalatratvaḥ

For one who has properly obtained it as a ring upon the finger, there is no fear from any quarter, nor does he ever mock the Lord — such is the quality-endowed Bhishma-gem.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.76.6)

पितॄतर्पणे पितॄणां तृप्तिर्बहुवार्षिकी भवति ॥ शाम्यन्त्यद्भुतान्यपि सर्पाण्डजाखुवृश्चिकविषाणि ॥ सलिलाग्निवैरितस्करभयानि भीमानि नश्यन्ति

pitṝtarpaṇe pitṝṇāṁ tṛptirbahuvārṣikī bhavati . śāmyantyadbhutānyapi sarpāṇḍajākhuvṛścikaviṣāṇi . salilāgnivairitaskarabhayāni bhīmāni naśyanti

In the offering of libations to the ancestors, it brings them satisfaction lasting many years; even extraordinary poisons of serpents, egg-born creatures, rats, and scorpions are calmed; and dreadful dangers from water, fire, enemies, and thieves are destroyed.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.76.7)

शैवलबलाहकाभं पुरुषं पीतप्रभं प्रभाहीनम् ॥ मलिनद्युति च विवर्णं दूरात्परिवर्जयेत्प्राज्ञः

śaivalabalāhakābhaṁ puruṣaṁ pītaprabhaṁ prabhāhīnam . malinadyuti ca vivarṇaṁ dūrātparivarjayetprājñaḥ

The wise should shun from afar a gem of the color of moss or a rain-cloud, of a dull yellow hue, devoid of brilliance, of tarnished luster, and discolored.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.76.8)

मूल्यं प्रकल्प्यमेषां विबुधवरैर्दैशकालविज्ञानात् ॥ दूरे भूतानां बहु किञ्चिन्निकटप्रसूतानाम्

mūlyaṁ prakalpyameṣāṁ vibudhavarairdaiśakālavijñānāt . dūre bhūtānāṁ bahu kiñcinnikaṭaprasūtānām

The best of the wise should determine the price of these according to their knowledge of place and time — gems from distant regions are worth much, and those born nearby, comparatively less.