Sutra 4

Devanagari script

मसूरकं त्रिपुटकं कूर्मकमर्धचन्द्रकं कञ्चुकितं यमकं कर्तकं खरकं सिक्तकं कामण्डलुकं श्यावं नीलं दुर्विद्धं चाप्रशस्तम् ॥ कZ_०२.११.०४ ॥

Transliteration

masūrakaṃ tripuṭakaṃ kūrmakam ardhacandrakaṃ kañcukitaṃ yamakaṃ kartakaṃ kharakaṃ siktakaṃ kāmaṇḍalukaṃ śyāvaṃ nīlaṃ durviddhaṃ cāpraśastam

Translation

Pearls of the following kinds are not recommended/acceptable: lentil-shaped (masūraka), three-lobed (tripuṭaka), tortoise-shaped (kūrmaka), half-moon (ardhacandraka), coated (kañcukita), paired/twinned (yamaka), cut (kartaka), rough (kharaka), sanded/powdered (siktaka), gourd-shaped (kāmaṇḍaluka); also those that are brownish, bluish, or badly pierced.

Word by Word

• मसूरकम्: ‘masūraka’ type (a particular defective cut/perforation/mark)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मसूरक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (सूच्यर्थे वस्तुनाम)

• त्रिपुटकम्: ‘tripuṭaka’ type (a particular defective form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुटक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; त्रि + पुटक (संख्यापूर्वक-समास)

• कूर्मकम्: ‘kūrmaka’ type (tortoise-shaped defect/form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्मक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• अर्धचन्द्रकम्: ‘ardhacandraka’ type (half-moon-shaped defect/form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्धचन्द्रक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; अर्ध + चन्द्रक

• कञ्चुकितम्: ‘kañcukita’ (having a ‘jacket/covering’; a named defective type)
• Type: Adjective/Participle
• Root: कञ्चुकित
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; कञ्चुकित (कञ्चुक-युक्त/आवृत-प्रकार)

• यमकम्: ‘yamaka’ type (paired/double defect/form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• कर्तकम्: ‘kartaka’ type (a particular cut/notch defect)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• खरकम्: ‘kharaka’ type (rough/coarse defect/form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खरक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• सिक्तकम्: ‘siktaka’ type (sprinkled/wet-marked defect/form)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: सिक्तक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; सिक्त (√सिच् ‘to sprinkle’) से निष्पन्न नाम/विशेषण

• कामण्डलुकम्: ‘kāmaṇḍaluka’ type (water-pot-shaped defect/form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामण्डलुक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• श्यावम्: dark-brown/greyish (discoloured)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याव
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• नीलम्: blue/blackish (discoloured)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• दुर्विद्धम्: badly pierced/perforated
• Type: Adjective/Participle
• Root: दुर्विद्ध
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; दुḥ + विद्ध (√व्यध्/√विध् ‘to pierce’)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• अप्रशस्तम्: unacceptable; not approved (defective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रशस्त
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; अ- + प्रशस्त

More Details

FAQs

What governance function does a defect-list serve?

It creates objective rejection criteria, reducing discretion and rent-seeking in treasury acceptance and state purchases.

How would this translate into a modern specification?

A technical standard with defect taxonomy, minimum acceptable grade, and documented inspection checklist.