Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s4.14

v2.c41.s4.14

The green beryl or vaidūrya (2.11.30) has been earlier mentioned by Pāṇini in his Aṣṭādhyāyī (vide previous chapter). The accounts of the Greek and Roman travellers, as well as the numerous references in the Indian epics, describe in glowing terms the Indians’ abiding fascination for vaidūrya, whose colour has been aptly compared with sea water, green bamboo and parrot’s wing: