The fragrance of karavīra, utpala, elephant, intoxicating oil, saffron, sandalwood and champak is very fragrant. It is auspicious and unpleasant and smells like cow urine, mud and fat.
If the sword (khaḍga) should smell like the tortoise, serum, blood, or salt, it indicates fear and grief. If the sword should appear bright as Vaidūrya, gold or lightning, it indicates increased success and health.
The following methods of tempering swords and cutting instruments are taken from the works of Śukra: He who desires bright prosperity shall temper the weapon in blood; he who desires an excellent son shall temper the weapon in ghee; and he who desires great wealth shall temper it in water.
If the weapon be tempered in the blood of the mare, a she camel or a she elephant, there will be acquisition of wealth by wicked deeds; if it be tempered in the fat of the fish, or in the milk of the deer, or of the horse, or of the goat, or in the juice of the palm fruit, the weapon will become so strong that the trunk of the elephant can be cut with it.
आर्कं पयो हुडुविषाणमषीसमेतं पारावतऽखुशकृता च युतः प्रलेपः । शास्त्रस्य तैलमथितस्य ततो अस्य पानं पश्चात्शितस्य न शिलासु भवेद्विघातः ॥ ५०-२५ ॥
After smearing oil over the weapon there shall be smeared over it again a preparation or mixture of the black powder of the burnt horn of the ram, the excrement of the turtle dove and of the rat, and the milk or juice of the plant calotropis gigantic, the weapon shall then be tempered in any of the ways described. It will not break at all when rubbed against the whetstone.