Sutra 25

Devanagari script

छेदश्चिक्कणः समवर्णः श्लक्ष्णो मृदुर्भाजिष्णुश्च श्रेष्ठः ॥ कZ_०२.१३.२५ ॥

Transliteration

chedaś cikkaṇaḥ samavarṇaḥ ślakṣṇo mṛdur bhājiṣṇuś ca śreṣṭhaḥ

Translation

The best specimen is one whose cut surface is smooth and glossy, of uniform colour, fine-textured, soft, and lustrous.

Word by Word

• छेदः: cleavage; the quality of cutting/being cut
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; भाववाचक/क्रियाफलवाचक संज्ञा (छेद = cutting/cleavage)

• चिक्कणः: smooth; even; not rough
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिक्कण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण (गुणवाचक)

• समवर्णः: uniform-coloured; of even colour
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + वर्ण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; समः वर्णः यस्य (समवर्ण)

• श्लक्ष्णः: fine; smooth; polished
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण

• मृदुः: soft; pliant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण

• भाजिष्णुः: shining; lustrous; radiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाज्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (भाज् + इष्णु) = ‘prone to shine/partake’

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

• श्रेष्ठः: excellent; the best; superior
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण (प्रशस्ततम/उत्तम)

Entities Mentioned

• cheda

More Details

FAQs

Why include ‘cut-surface’ criteria in addition to touchstone criteria?

Because surface plating can deceive streak tests; examining a cut exposes internal consistency and deters sophisticated fraud.