69 - On the test of Gems – pearls

Suta said: 

1. Pearls are found in lordly elephants, clouds, wild boars, shella, fishes, cobraz, oysters and the bamboos. Pearls in oysters are more abundant. 

2. Only these are valued as gems and only these and not the other ones can be bored through entirely-- say the experts. 

3. Pearls found in bamboos, elephants, whales, and wild boars are usually devoid of lustre though reputed to be auspicious. 

4. Of the eight varieties of pearls as the experts say those obtained from shells and temples of elephants are the poorest in quality. 

5. Pearls found in shells have the same colour as the central portion of shells. They have big angles and weigh about a pala. Pearls from the temple of elephants have a slight yellowish colour without lustre. 

6. The well-known conch (of Vişhņu) rendered yellow by its clash with Shärniga (the bow of Vişhnu) and elephants of good breed are the sources of yellowish circular pearls devoid of lustre.

7. Small light pearls are found in the mouths of the Pathina fish that usually frequent the middle of the vast ocean. They have the same colour as their back. 

8. Pearls obtained from the curved teeth of wild boars having the same colour as their source are very rare and are prized like the Divine Boar (Vişhņu) 

9. Pearls found in the joints of bamboos resembling the hail stone in colour are very rare since these bamboos grow only in those places which noble virtuous men frequent and not in wild forests or public places. 

10. Pearls found from the hoods of cobras are perfectly round like fish and have brilliant colour and lustre like a sword frequently sharpened and polished. 

11. Only meritorious persons will have access to the cobra-pearl. Then they can get other gems of great brilliance, wealth, kingdom and grow brilliant. 

12-13. The man possessing cobra-pearl should invite persons well-versed in sacred rites and perform Rakşhåvidhåna (Protection rites) during an auspicious hour and place it on the top of the mansion. Then the whole sky will be enveloped by rainbearing clouds hanging low. Sounds of thunder will be heard as resonant as the sound of drums. Flashes of lightning will illuminate the quarters.

14. He who has a cobra pearl in his treasury is never harassed by serpents, evil demons, foul diseases and defects of evil associations.

15. The Pearl with cloud as its origin rarely comes to the earth. Gods take it away from the sky. By the lustre it emits all round it illuminates the quarters. No one can gaze at its dazzling brilliance as no one can gaze at the disc of the sun.

16. This pearl outshines the brilliance of fire, moon, stars and planets. It is equally brilliant in the day as in the night enveloped by pitch darkness.

17. I am sure that the whole earth surrounded by four oceans overflowing with waters sparkling like gems is not an adequate price for this pearl even if the earth, the most beautiful of all worlds, is filled with gold. 

18. Even if an indigent man were to obtain it as a result of his previous merits he will enjoy unrivalled lordship as long as the pearl remains in his possession. 

19. It is capable of bestowing good fortune not only upon the meritorious king but also upon the subjects as well. It is capable of dispelling evil thousands of yojanas all round. 

20. Scattered all round from heaven, the rows of teeth of the great demon Bala shining with its pure colour like the milky way, fell into the waters of the ocean of various colours. 

21. The seed of the pure gem of great quality, having the lustre of full moon, found a place in the oyster where other seeds born of other sources also were present. 

22. Where the seeds of beautiful pearl fell, the water from the clouds too fell and both together entered the oyster shell and were converted into pearls. 

23. Pearls found at eight different places are called (1) Saimhalika (ofCeylon), (2) Păralaukika (Heavenly), (3) Saurashtrika (of Gujarat), (4) Tämraparna, (5) Påraśhava (of Persiangulf), (6) Kaubera, (7) Pandyahåţaka (of the Påndya country in South India), and (8) Hemaka, 

24. In size, shape quality and lustre, the oyster pearls from Vardhana, Parashika, Pătăla and other worlds and Simhala are not inferior to any other pearl.

25. In the matter of pearls (from oyster) the source need not be taken into consideration. An expert shall note the features and the size. Pearls of all sizes and shapes can be found everywhere. 

26. An oyster pearl ground well on the emery wheel can be priced five thousand three hundred silver pieces. 

27. A pearl weighing half a Mashaka1 less shall be priced two fifths less (5300 X 2/5 = 2120 i.e. 3180 silver pieces). The pearl weighing three Mashakas is priced 2000 silver pieces as the maxiinum.

1. A measurement for weight. Twelve Mashakas make one told and 86 tolas make one kilogram.

28. If the pearl weighs two and a half Mashakas, its price is one thousand three hundred silver pieces. A pearl weighing two Māşhakas (if its quality is good) is priced 800 silver pieces. 

29. A pearl weighing a Måşhaka and a half is priced three hundred and twenty five silver pieces. A pearl weighing six Guñjās2 has the maximum price of two hundred silver pieces, thus say the experts. If it is ground well and has all merits, the price can be increased by a hundred and Gifty silver pieces. 

2. The fruits of Abrus precatorius used for weighing in ancient India.

30. If there are not less than sixteen pearls in a Dharana (ten palas) it is called Därvika. Even a child will be paid a hundred and ten silver pieces for it. 

31 If there are not less than twenty pearls in a Dharana (ten palas) experts call it Bhavaka. It can fetch seventy nine silver pieces if the pearls are not deficient in quality. 

32. If a Dharaṇa is complete with thirty pearls it is called Shikya. Its maximum price shall be forty. 

33. Forty pearls together weighing a Dharana can be termed Shiktha. Its price is thirty. Sixty pearls together weighing a dharana can be termed NikaRashirşha. Its price is fourteen. 

34. Eighty or ninety pearls in a Dharaṇa is called a Kūpyä. Its price is eleven and nine.

35. Gather together the pearls in a rice bowl and cook them well in the juice of Lemon. Rub them well with finely chopped carrot. Now the pearls can be bored quickly.

36-37. Make a Matsyapuța covering the pearls with clay. [A puta is baking anything in a crucible]. Heat it well by means of the process Vitänapatti (covering the crucible, etc. with a canopy). Then cook the pearls, in milk first, then in water and then in lime water. Finally cook them in condensed milk, then rub them with a clean cloth. Now the pearls will begin to shine brilliantly. Vyādi1, the great sage of wonderful powers, has mentioned this process of cleaning pearls out of consideration for the world and experts in gems.

1. He is also reputed as a grammarian somewhat later than påpini.

38. A white pearl shining like glass together with gold one hundredth of it by weight shall be put in mercury for some time before using it as an ornament. Experts in Simhala do like this. 

39-40. If there is a doubt to the artificiality of a pearl, put it in hot oil with a pinch of common salt. Then take it out and soak it in water for a whole night. The next day cover it with a dry cloth and rubit with grains of paddy. If the colour does not fade the pearl is genuine not artificial. 

41. A white pearl of proper size smooth and heavy, pure and clean, circular in shape and brilliant is of good quality. 

42. If a pearl delights even a person who does not want to buy it, if it is of proper size, if it sheds white rays, if it is white and circular, if the hole is of uniform width throughout we can say that it is of good quality.

43. If such a fine pearl with commendable features as described above is in one's possession he will be free from all evils and faults.