[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Purāṇas](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana) › [Garuḍapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda) › [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt) › 1.73 # Garudapurana 1.73 English (machine translation) 1.73 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [1.73.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.19) — 1 part ### [1.73.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.1) The glorious Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa — \[Chapter\] 73 Sūta said: O twice-born ones, I will speak of the examination of cat's-eye, topaz, karketana, and bhīṣmaka, as declared by Brahmā and narrated by Vyāsa. ### [1.73.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.2) From the roar of the demon, which resembled the crashing of the ocean agitated at the time of cosmic dissolution, was produced the multi-coloured cat's-eye, the source of lovely radiance, splendour, and colour. ### [1.73.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.3) Not far from Mount Vidūra, which has lofty slopes, its mine came to be, adjoining the boundary of Kāmabhūtika. ### [1.73.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.4) Because it arose from his roar, the mine became possessed of exceedingly great virtue, celebrated in the world and an ornament of the three worlds. ### [1.73.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.5) Corresponding to that very roar of the lord of the Dānavas, displaying charming forms like the best of monsoon clouds, various luminous cat's-eye gemstones arose from it like swarms of sparks. ### [1.73.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.6) Beginning with the ruby, whatever colours of gems exist on earth, the cat's-eye imitates them all with its beauties of colour. ### [1.73.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.7) The foremost among them is peacock-neck blue, or that which has the appearance of a bamboo leaf; those having the splendour resembling the tip of a blue jay's wing are not praised by connoisseurs of gemology. ### [1.73.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.8) A virtuous cat's-eye gemstone unites its master with supreme enjoyments; associated with defects, it brings troubles; therefore one should examine it with care. ### [1.73.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.9) Girikāca, śiśupāla, glass, and quartz streaked with smoke: these are the false substitutes resembling the cat's-eye gemstone. ### [1.73.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.10) One should know glass by its lack of scratchability, and the śaiśupālaka by its lightness; girikāca by its brilliance, and quartz by the brightness of its colour. ### [1.73.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.11) Whatever is the value of an excellent sapphire measured by the weight of a suvarṇa, that very same is prescribed for a cat's-eye gemstone whose weight measures two palas. ### [1.73.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.12) Although there are false varieties of equal colour / to genuine gems of every kind, / nonetheless, an ultimate method of distinction has been declared, / to be inferred by various tests. ### [1.73.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.13) And this distinction is easily recognized and should always be examined by a wise man: / difference in luster, lightness, and softness / are indeed universal marks of a spurious kind. ### [1.73.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.14) Enhanced by skillful or unskillful hands, set, and treated by repeated refinements, / gems, though differentiated, obtain an altered value / arising from their merits and defects. ### [1.73.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.15) If, gradually passing from past to present, / gems are carefully mounted by a gem-setter / and are truly free from defects, / they attain six times their value. ### [1.73.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.16) This price applies to gems / that have left the mines and are near the seashore, / but not everywhere on the face of the earth. ### [1.73.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.17) The suvarṇa weight declared by Manu, which consists of sixteen māṣakas— / a seventieth part of that / shall constitute the standard coin unit. ### [1.73.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.18) A śāṇa measures four māṣas, a māṣaka is five kṛṣṇalas, / and a tenth part of a pala / is declared to be a dharaṇa. ### [1.73.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.19) Thus has the rule on gems been declared / for determining the value of jewels. ### [1.73.19.p1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73.19.p1) Thus ends the seventy-third chapter, entitled 'Examination of Cat's-Eye', in the Ācārakāṇḍa of the first part of the first section of the glorious Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa. ## Linked texts (1) - [Garuḍapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda.1.73.1) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.garuda~en-mt.1.73) · Pramāṇa