At the behest of the gods, a noble soul was approached under the pretense of granting him a boon. In truth, they sought his consent to become the sacrificial victim in a great ritual. Bound by his own word and unwavering commitment, he submitted himself, and, like a sacrificial animal, was slain by the gods. Yet, because of his pure nature and the merit of his virtuous deeds, wondrous things came forth from him. From his being emerged the gems of the gods, together with yakshas, siddhas, and those who live on air alone. As these celestial gems descended swiftly from the sky in their flying vehicles, they scattered across the world—falling into the great ocean, into rivers, upon mountains, and even into dense forests. Among these gems, there are those that destroy demons, neutralize poisons, protect against wild beasts, cure diseases, and remove sin. The diamond, the pearl, the ruby, the padmaraga, and the emerald are counted among them. Other notable stones include karketana, pulaka, the blood-colored rudhira, and crystal. When assessing such gems, one must first examine their shape and color, then their qualities and flaws, and finally their effects. If gems arise in the families of the destroyed, or on inauspicious days, even if purified through examination, kings must ensure they are further assessed by those skilled in the science—experts and experienced gem-appraisers. The diamond, in particular, is declared by the wise to possess great power. Wherever even a fragment of diamond happened to fall to earth, those regions became renowned: Hemamāṭaṅga, Saurāṣṭra, Pauṇḍra, Kaliṅga, and Kośala. Diamonds from the Himalayas are coppery; those from the moon are said to be moon-like; those from the banks of the bamboo are remembered as Sauvira stones; and those resembling dark lotuses, clouds, or bearing a coppery hue are from Saurashtra. A diamond should be extremely light in color and quality, with well-formed sides, evenly marked with lines, dots, and spots, and free from defects such as crow’s feet and other flaws. By the arrangement of colors in diamonds, even the forms of the gods are described. Green, white, yellow, tawny, dark, and coppery—these colors are naturally pleasing. For a Brahmin, the diamond should be as pure as conch, lotus, or crystal; for a Kshatriya, it should resemble the color of a hare, be brown, or like the eye. Two colors of diamond are prescribed by the wise for rulers of the earth, but these are not common to all people. The diamond possessing all colors and all qualities is considered universal. The mixture of colors in a diamond, whether from the lower or upper forms, must be carefully considered, but a wise person does not choose a diamond solely by its division of paths or forms. If even one tip of the diamond is split or broken, if the tip is cracked by fire or broken, or if it is covered with stains and spots, it is considered mediocre. If any part displays a blood-like appearance or is marked with red coloring, this too is a fault. Diamonds are described as having six, eight, or twelve edges, sides, and facets. The most prized is the diamond with six facets: pure, spotless, with sharp, clear edges, possessing color and luster, well-proportioned, and free from defects. One who always wears such a diamond—with a sharp tip, spotless, and free from all flaws, with a devoted body—is protected from serpents, fire, poison, tigers, thieves, water, and all dangers. A diamond free from all defects should weigh twenty grains of rice. If it lacks a third, half, or a quarter, or measures thirteen or thirty grains, then half-portions are considered. The original price prescribed for a diamond is that of twelve grains of rice. Yet, the proper method for wearing diamonds is not determined merely by their weight. A diamond endowed with all virtues surpasses even water in excellence. Even a slight flaw, whether visible or not, renders it defective. Whether the flaw is obvious, numerous, small, or great, it is readily apparent. And if a diamond shows a clear defect in its ornamentation, it is still recognized as flawed.