Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c49.194

v2.c49.194

*Vaidūrya* : a cat’s eye gem (4.3.84) says that this is obtained from *Vidura* plus affix *ya* in the sense ‘what manifests itself there’. In the *Bhāṣya* it is added that the gem was actually found in the mountain of *Vālavāya*. The rough stone used to be worked upon in the city of *Vidura*. Pāṇini had made the two names synonymous. Anyway the city was evidently the source of polished gem of *Vaidūrya*.