A History of Indian Medical Literature v4.c63.839

v4.c63.839

391 A.K. and S. Biswas (1996: 81–85) argue that vaidūrya, which is a beryl, has been confused with the gem called cat's eye. A.K. Biswas (1994: 145–146) declares unequivocally that the ancient scholars of India understood that vaidūrya meant white, sea-green, and sometimes blue beryl and nothing else (he refers to Arthaśāstra 2.11.30, a text setting vaidūrya apart from cat's eye or mārjārākṣaka at 2.11.39). A.K. and S. Biswas (1996: 83) identify the mārjārākṣaka as milky white chrysoberyl cat's eye and quartz cat's eye. See on this subject also: D. Joshi (1986): 204–206; K. Karttunen (1997): 237–238; A. Master (1943–46); B.K. Sarkar (1974): I, 121.