Consider the nature of gems: when a stone is smeared with oil, its appearance changes, and if it is excessively rubbed, it loses its natural luster. Thus, when one comes upon a jewel—be it even a precious one drawn from the depths of the ocean—one must examine it carefully, weighing its merits and qualities to discern its true nature. If doubt remains about the stone’s authenticity, it does not simply vanish; rather, the jewel must be tested upon a touchstone. Whether it is a diamond or a kuruvinda, its real character is revealed by this method. All jewels of the same kind share a single color and are not divided into different types. If a gem lacks essential qualities, it should not be worn, even if it comes from a noble lineage; only those endowed with true virtues are worthy of acceptance. For just as a single outcaste, mingling among the twice-born, can easily bring about the downfall of many, so too can a flawed gem cause harm, even when placed among rivals or handled carelessly. Yet, the afflictions that arise from such faults do not touch one who is pure. The value of a diamond is determined by its weight, measured with grains of rice, and a jewel that shines with brilliant color is especially praised. Thus concludes the seventieth chapter, the “Examination of the Padmaraga Gem,” in the first section, Ācārakāṇḍa, of the Purva-khaṇḍa of the glorious Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa. Now, let us hear of a wondrous event. The lord of serpents took the bile of the mighty lord of the Dānavas. Radiant with the gleam of the jewel upon his own head, he soared into the sky and the ocean. With the powerful descent of his wings, it was as if he gathered together heaven and earth. Suddenly, the lord of serpents released the bile at the base of a Turushka tree, which had been anointed by Surasā. No sooner had it fallen than he passed through the abode of Varāla and came near Ramā. As the bile was still descending, Garuḍa seized a portion of it. Where it landed—amidst grass, moss, and marsh plants, in the company of sharp-beaked birds, silk-cotton flowers, and fireflies—the bile of the Dānava lord, struck by the serpent king, came to rest. In that very place, a wondrous emerald arises, one that cannot be cured or altered by any mantra or medicine. There, too, is found another flawless form: intensely green, soft, radiant, and fibrous in appearance, possessing proper shape and qualities, evenly colored, and dignified. When the green hue is set aside, its inner brilliance remains concealed, yet it brings exceptional delight to the beholder’s mind. Its color is splendid, its interior adorned with clear rays, shining with luster and dense form. Yet, there are also gems that are spotted, hard, impure, rough, and stone-like in texture. A gem that dries at its joints becomes another variety of emerald. Bhallataka and putrika are so named according to their color; putrika, when polished with linen, loses its brilliance. Though emeralds may take on many forms and qualities, they all follow the essential characteristics of emerald. There are also diamonds, pearls, and other twice-born gems. In some, a certain quality arises from their straightness. In acts of bathing, sipping, recitation, and the performance of protective mantra rituals—in rites for the gods, ancestors, guests, and in honoring the teacher—a faultless gem, endowed with virtues, is best matched with gold. The value of the padmaraga is determined by its weight. Thus, the wisdom of gems is revealed: their nature must be discerned with care, their virtues cherished, and their flaws avoided, for only the truly worthy shine forth in the world.