A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c33.4

v2.c33.4

‡ The rendering of the description of diamond in R. R. S. (vide Vol. i, p. 100) is based upon a misreading The correct reading is that adopted by the Poona edition, namely, अष्टास्रं चाष्टफलकं षट्कोणं "a diamond has 8 faces and 6 angles." The author evidently uses अस्र and फलक in the same sense ; there cannot be any confusion here, as distinct mention is made of the 6 angles. As a rule अस्र and कोण are used synonymously. Thus in Varāha वज्र is described as षडस्रि ; the commentator Bhattotpala explains it षडभिरस्रिभिर्युक्तं षट्कोणमित्यर्थः । "Rounded" (वर्तुल) : Cf. Bauer and Spencer. "The faces of diamond crystals differ from those of most other crystallised minerals, in that they are, as a