The Examination of Vidruma (Coral)

Verse 1 (garuda.1.80.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ आदाय शेषस्तस्यान्त्रं बलस्य केरलादिषु ॥ चिक्षेप तत्र जायन्ते विद्रुमाः सुमहागुणाः

. sūta uvāca . ādāya śeṣastasyāntraṁ balasya keralādiṣu . cikṣepa tatra jāyante vidrumāḥ sumahāguṇāḥ

Suta said: Taking the remaining entrails of that Bala, they were cast into Kerala and other regions; there arise corals (vidruma) of very great quality.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.80.2)

तत्र प्रधानं शशलोहिताभं गुञ्जाजवापुष्पनिभं प्रदिष्टम् ॥ सुनीलकं देवकरोमकञ्च स्थानानि तेषु प्रभवं सुरागम्

tatra pradhānaṁ śaśalohitābhaṁ guñjājavāpuṣpanibhaṁ pradiṣṭam . sunīlakaṁ devakaromakañca sthānāni teṣu prabhavaṁ surāgam

There, the finest coral is declared to have the hue of a red hare, resembling the gunja-seed and the japa-flower; there are also the deep blue-black and the type called 'deva-karoma' — these are the true, excellent-colored products of those places.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.80.3)

अन्यत्र जातं च न तत्प्रधानं मूल्यं भवेच्छिल्पिविशेषयोगात् ॥ प्रसन्नं कोमलं स्निग्धं सुरागं विद्रुमं हि तत्

anyatra jātaṁ ca na tatpradhānaṁ mūlyaṁ bhavecchilpiviśeṣayogāt . prasannaṁ komalaṁ snigdhaṁ surāgaṁ vidrumaṁ hi tat

Coral born elsewhere is not of that finest kind; its price depends on the particular skill of the craftsman. That coral which is clear, soft, glossy, and of true color is the genuine vidruma.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.80.4)

धनधान्यकरं लोके विषार्त्तिभयनाशनम् ॥ परीक्षा पुलकस्योक्ता रुधिराक्षस्य वै मणेः ॥ स्फटिकस्य विद्रुमस्य रत्नज्ञानाय शौनक !

dhanadhānyakaraṁ loke viṣārttibhayanāśanam . parīkṣā pulakasyoktā rudhirākṣasya vai maṇeḥ . sphaṭikasya vidrumasya ratnajñānāya śaunaka !

It bestows wealth and grain in the world, and destroys the fear and suffering caused by poison. Thus, O Shaunaka, has the examination of pulaka, of the rudhiraksha gem, of crystal, and of coral been declared, for the sake of knowledge of gems.