बृहत्संहिता (आचार्य वराहमिहिर - स्थापत्य, खगोल, मौसम व जल विज्ञान)

628 बृहत्संहितायाम् [Adh. LXXX. Sl. 1-4. of timber causes the death of the person who sleeps on it ; and one of six, seven or eight kinds, the ruin of the family. Thus ends the 79th Adhyaya on " Signs of Couches and Seats.' रत्नपरीक्षा ॥८०॥ Examination Of Gems. रत्नेन शुभेन शुभं भवति नृपाणामनिष्टमशुभेन । यस्मादतः परीक्ष्यं दैवं रत्नाश्रितं तज्ज्ञैः ॥१॥ Sloka 1.—A jewel endowed with good characteris- tics ensures good luck to kings ; and one with bad ones, disaster. Hence the connoisseurs should examine their fortune as connected with jewels. द्विपहयवनितादीनां स्वगुणविशेषेण रत्नशब्दोऽस्ति । इह तूपलरत्नानामधिकारो वज्रपूर्वाणाम् ॥२॥ Sloka 2.—The word gem is applied to elephants, horses, women and so on, on account of the excellence of their intrinsic merits ; but here are dealt with precious stones, such as diamonds. रत्नानि बलाद्दैत्यादृषीचितोऽन्ये वदन्ति जातानि । केचिद्भूवः स्वभावाद्वैचित्र्यं प्राहुरुपलानाम् ॥३॥ Sloka 3.—Gems, they say, were born of the bones of the demon Bala ; while others state that they were born of sage Dadheechi ; yet others there are who say that the wonderful variety of gems is caused by the cha- racteristic qualities of the earth. वज्रेन्द्रनीलमरकतकेंकेतरपद्मरागरुधिराख्याः । वैडूर्यपुलकविमलकराजमणिस्फटिकशशिकान्ताः ॥४॥