Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t13.23

v2.c43.s3.t13.23

The bamboo-pearl has been described as *tvakṣāra* or the essence of the plant-epidermis, *varṣopalasamadiptiḥ*, lustrous like the hailstone, clear as the moon, resembling the fruits of *badari* and *kaṅkolī* or *kakkol*, a fragrant fruit, and the seeds of *guñjā*, *Abrus precatorius*, etc. (*RP*, 61; *AM*, 100; *NRP*, 66; *GP*, 1.69.9; *RYP*, 43). *Maṇimālā* (296) commented that there are five species of bamboos, which produce five different kinds of bamboo-pearls.