Ashtangasamgraha 34.28

34.28

ārā caturasrārdhāṅgulavṛttamukhā tāvatpraveśā bahalakarṇapālīvyathārthā pakvāmaśophasandehabhedanārthā ca |

karṇavyadhanaṃ tryaṅgulāyatamaṅgulasuṣiraṃ ghanaṃ yūthikāmukulāgram ||

nāḍyekānṛjuranyeṣāṃ saivānekagatirgatiḥ ||

The awl (ārā) is four-sided, with a rounded point of half a finger that penetrates to that depth, and is meant for piercing the thick earlobe and for incising when there is doubt whether a swelling is ripe or unripe.

The ear-piercer (karṇavyadhana) is three fingers long, with a hollow of one finger, thick, and has a tip shaped like a jasmine bud.

One fistula (nāḍī) is straight; in others, that same tract takes multiple courses.