He who enjoys the earth without rivals flourishes for as long as that blessed condition endures. Throughout a thousand yojanas in every direction, his reign turns away every misfortune. In this time, among the many colors of the world, the purest—like the color of milk—fell from the best of cows. That precious seed, having come from other origins, entered into an oyster. When streams of milk-water rained down upon it, the seed, resting within the oyster, was transformed into a pearl. These wondrous pearls are known as those of Simhalika, Paralaukika, Saurashtra, Tamraparna, and Parashava. Pearls born from oysters are never of inferior color; rather, they are distinguished by their size, shape, quality, and luster. The wise do not concern themselves with the peculiarities of pearls produced from mines, but instead consider their form and size. Of the lustrous, oyster-born pearl, and another that is slightly lighter in weight, if it lacks half a māṣa, its value is reduced by two-fifths. But if it exceeds the standard by half or by two māṣas, its value multiplies a thousand and three hundred times. If it exceeds by half a māṣa, its value equals twenty-three hundred; if it exceeds by one and a half māṣas, its value is one hundred—provided the pearl possesses the proper qualities. Should its weight be less by sixteen, experts refer to it as a ‘dārvika.’ If less by twice ten, it is called ‘bhavaka.’ A full weight of thirty is known as ‘śikya,’ and if it is forty, its value is thirty. Sixty is called ‘nikaraśīrṣa’ and its value is fourteen; eleven and nine are the values for the next sizes, respectively. For purification, all of the pearls are placed in a food vessel and cooked with the juice of jambīra fruit. Afterwards, they are set inside a clay-smeared fish vessel and cooked again, then placed in a vessel made from cat’s excrement. Finally, by rubbing with a pure, spotless cloth, the pearl becomes clean, radiant, and endowed with abundant excellent qualities. Silver, when alloyed with a hundred parts of gold, becomes like white glass. In this manner, the skilled people of Siṃhala treat their pearls. At night, one should immerse the pearl in warm, salty, oily water. If the pearl does not lose its color, it should be understood as genuine. A pearl that is very lustrous and perfectly round is considered excellent. That which is of proper size, weighty, radiant, white, well-rounded, and with a fine, uniform perforation is prized above all. A pearl possessing all these qualities together is said to have attained perfection. Thus concludes, in the Śrī Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa, Pūrvakhaṇḍa, within the section called Ācārakāṇḍa, the sixty-ninth chapter, named ‘Examination of Pearls,’ describing the standards and characteristics of pearls. Now, the sun, resplendent and glorious, is revered as the supreme source of gems among the great gods. This sun, ever-victorious in battles with the gods and uplifted by pride in his own strength, once beheld the hips of a woman of Siṃhalī. Startled and frightened, he plunged into the depths of the great lake. From that time onward, that river became equal to the Gaṅgā in the merit it bestowed. Its banks, especially at night, became filled with gems. There, beautiful rubies appear on the banks, and within its waters are found the padmarāga gems. These gems shine with the colors of bandhūka, guñjā, indragopa, and javā flowers, displaying a uniform and splendid hue. Their colors are likened to cinnabar, lotus, blue water lily, saffron, and the resin of lac. When these gems come into contact with the rays of the sun, they attain a brilliance that stretches far, made radiant by their union with sunlight. Their color is a vivid blend of safflower red and dark blue, resembling the intense hue of a red lotus. Some gems possess an appearance in the eyes like the essence of the male chakora bird and the kokila. In brilliance, hardness, and weight, these gems are generally similar to those produced from crystal. The redness present in kuruvinda stones is indeed found in these gems, but not in the same way as in those arising from crystal.