Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 11
Chapter 245 — रत्नपरीक्षा
Examination of Gems
स्फटिकजाः पद्मरागाः स्यू रागवन्तो ऽतिनिर्मलाः जातवङ्गा भवन्तीह कुरुविन्दसमुद्भवाः
sphaṭikajāḥ padmarāgāḥ syū rāgavanto 'tinirmalāḥ jātavaṅgā bhavantīha kuruvindasamudbhavāḥ
സ്ഫടികത്തിൽ നിന്നു ഉദ്ഭവിക്കുന്ന പദ്മരാഗ രത്നങ്ങൾ ഗാഢവർണ്ണവും അത്യന്തം നിർമലതയും ഉള്ളവയാണ്; ഇവിടെ കുരുവിന്ദത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജനിക്കുന്നവ ‘ജാതവങ്ഗ’ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധം.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator) to sage Vasiṣṭha
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Gem classification for valuation, trade, and selection of stones for ornaments/royal treasury.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Padmarāga varieties by origin (sphaṭika- and kuruvinda-janma)","lookup_keywords":["padmarāga","sphaṭika","kuruvinda","jātavaṅga","ratna-parīkṣā"],"quick_summary":"Padmarāga is classified by its source: crystal-born stones are intensely colored and very clear; kuruvinda-born padmarāga is termed jātavaṅga, aiding identification and pricing."}
Concept: Pramāṇa by observable guṇa (rāga, nirmalatā) and by provenance (utpatti-sthāna).
Application: Use origin and visible qualities to distinguish similar-looking gems and avoid misvaluation.
Khanda Section: Ratna-pariksha / Gemology (Encyclopedic descriptions of minerals and precious stones)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lapidary examines red padmarāga stones, separating crystal-born, highly transparent specimens from kuruvinda-origin stones labeled jātavaṅga.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, jewel-testing pavilion, lapidary holding a glowing red padmarāga against light, crystal shards nearby, palm-leaf labels reading sphaṭika and kuruvinda, rich flat colors, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gem merchant presenting padmarāga to a king, heavy gold leaf on ornaments and gem highlights, embossed halos, deep reds and greens, traditional arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional tableau of two trays: sphaṭika-janma padmarāga (clear, saturated) and kuruvinda-janma (jātavaṅga), fine linework, soft shading, annotated palm-leaf manuscript feel.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court jeweler sorting rubies/padmarāga by origin, meticulous detailing of translucency and facets, labeled trays, naturalistic textiles, subdued background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रागवन्तो ऽतिनिर्मलाः = रागवन्तः + अतिनिर्मलाः (विसर्ग-लोपः/अवग्रहः); भवन्तीह = भवन्ति + इह; कुरुविन्दसमुद्भवाः = कुरुविन्द + समुद्भवाः (समास)
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ratna-parīkṣā section: general gem qualities and defects (adjacent verses in adhyāya 245)
FAQs
It gives gemological classification: padmarāga stones are categorized by their source-material (e.g., sphaṭika/crystal vs. kuruvinda), with quality markers like strong colour (rāga) and high clarity (ati-nirmalatā).
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves technical cataloguing of natural materials—naming varieties, sources, and quality criteria—showing its role as a compendium that includes mineralogy/gem-testing alongside ritual and dharma.
By identifying pure, well-classified gems, one avoids inauspicious or defective materials in offerings and royal/temple use; purity and correct selection are traditionally linked with auspiciousness and reduced ritual fault (doṣa).