Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature
by Sulekha Biswas | 1990 | 69,848 words
This essay studies the presence of Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature over three millennia, from the Rigveda to Rasaratna-Samuccaya. It establishes that ancient Indians were knowledgeable about various minerals and metallurgy prior to the Harappan era, with literary references starting in the Rgveda. The thesis further examines the evolutio...
Appendix D - Technical words in Kautiliya Arthashastra
AKSASALA workshop for the manufacture of gold and silver articles 2.13.1 and 30. AGNISTHA an oven 2.14.24 and 53; 3.8.11 ADHIKARANI iron vessel, 2.14., an anvil 4.4.20 ANJANA antimony compound/sulphide 2.11.35; 2.12.6 and 24; 2.22.t ABHRAPATALA a covering of mica 13.2.25 ASTAKA lac 2.14.27 and 39 AKARIKA mine-worker, mine 2.12.20 ACI TAKAPATRA gold leaf for plating 2.14.25 AJIVA hardening alloy used in coining 2.12.24 ABANDHYA omaments, jewellery, 3.2.14-15; 4.12.27-28 AYASKANTA magnetic, containing a magnet 2.14.19 ARAKUTA brass 2.12.23, 2.17.14; 4.1.35 AVESANA a factory, a workshop, 2.13.1, 2.36.14 AVESANIN a workman 2.14.1 and 7 INDRANILA sapphire 2.11.31 UTPALAVARANA gem, coloured like blue lotus 2.11.30
USMAN steam, vapour, heat 1.21.7, 2.18.3 D.2 AISTAKA brick-built 2.3.7, 2.5.3 KAMSA bronze 2.12.33; 2.17.14; 4.1.35 KATAMANA fastening of gold (etc.) for a gem at the sides 2.13.41 KATUSARKARA soft stone or pebble 2.14.37 KARATUKAMUKHA 'crane's neck', a kind of goldsmith's tool, 2.14.23 KARNAKILAYASA copper wire in the pillars at the corners or iron Pegs at the corners 3.8.3. KARMANTA a workshop or a factory, 2.12.18, 23 and 27, 2.17.17, 2,19.1, 2.23.10. KALADHAUTAKA ornamental silver 2.14.8 KALANI pulp 2.25.26 KALPANA chopper or cutter 2.3.34 KAKANI copper coin one-sixty-fourth of a pana 2.12.24; 2.13.15-16 KACA glass, crystal 3.17.8. In 2.14.53. Kaca implies pilferage. KACAKA fixing mica or glass in an article of gold. 2.14.40. KACAKARMANA setting in gold or silver 2.13.41 and 43. KACAMANI a glass bead 2.11.36 KACARPANA setting a gen in gold or silver 2.12.38 KANCANA gold or silver base for setting 2.13.33 and 41
D.3 KANCANAKARU an artisan working in setting gems etc. 2.13.33 KARUKARMA artisan's work 2.14.17 see text for details, Chapter 5 KARMANTIKA the Director of Factories, 1.12.6, 2.4.11, 5.3.7 KARMARIKA manufactured by a smith 2.3.35 KARMIKA Works manager 2.1.38, 2.7.22-23, 2.28.27 KALAYASA black metal or iron 2.13.55; 2.17.14 KASISA iron sulphate 2.13.19 puspakasisa KITTA dross 2.12.1; putikitta in 2.14.23 to KUTTA is pound 2.13.9 KUTTAKAYANTRA pounding machine 2.15.62 KUTTANASALA a shed for pounding work 3.8.28 KUPYA forest produce 1.16.29, 2.17.1 KURUVINDA corundum 2.14.48 KSARA sugar-cane juice, 2.15.14 and 64, 2.29.43, 2.30.18,2.31.1 also alkali 2.12.9 and 27; 2.15.15 KSUDRAKA minor work in gold (bead-making etc.) 2.13.37 and 40 KSURAKAL PA razor type weapons 2.18.14 See text Chapter 5 KSEPANA setting or binding in gold or silver 2.12.37-38 KHARGA sword 2.18.12 varieties see Chapter 5.
D. 4 GANDHARA red lead 2.14.35 GOMEDAKA gem of cow-flesh colour 2.11.30; 2.12.6 CANDRAKANTA see NANDAKA CUNCUVALUKA fine sand 2.12.5 JATU lac 2.14.35 JATARUPA gold 2.13.3 JIMUTAPRABHA gem with the lustre of dark cloud (clouds tone?) 2.11. TANKA chisel 4.4.20 TAPANIYA gold specially prepared for making ornaments using heat 2.13.61 TAPANIYAKARU a maker of ornamental gold 2.13.33 TAPTA ornamental gold 2.14.8 TAMRA copper 2.12.23-24, 2.13.52 and 58, 2.17.14, 4.1.35 TARA silver for ornaments 2.13.49, 2.14.30 TALA bell-metal 2.12.23 TIKSNA cast or carburised iron 2.12.15 and 24, 2.13.48 and 58 TIKENA TIKSNA DHATU iron ore which produces iron 2.12.15 whitish-red (sinduvara flower like) stone TUTTHA a crucible for heating and purification of silver 2.13.49 TRAPU tin 2.12.14, 23 and 24; 2.17.14; 4.1.39
D.5 TRI PUTAKA two parts of silver and one part of copper 2.14.20-21 TVASTR a gold plater 2.13.33 TVASTRKARMANA gold plating 2.13.44 DAN TA tooth of an elephant or ivory 3.17.8 DHATU metallic ore (not metal yet) 2.12.7 and 12-18; 2.22.6 NANDAKA gem, white inside and blue outside, resembles CANDRAKANTA 2.11.31 NALI a tube, a blowpipe 2.14.23; 13.2.21 NALIKA a measure of time approximately 24 minutes standardised by the time required for the flow of a certain amount of water through a standard holes, 1.7.8, 1.19.6; 2.20.35 NIKASYA O touchstone, actually streak plate for testing streak of gold and silver 2.13.17-27 PANA a silver coin (Karsapapa) 2.12.24; 2.13.15-16 PANAYATRA circulation of coin/currency 2.12.25; 4.1.44-45 PADMARAGA ruby 2.11.29 PARI BHANDA the encireling metal (in the setting of gems etc.) 2.13.43; 2.14.37 PAKAMUKTA product of crystallisation 2.12.28 (salt) PANSUDHAVAKA the dust-washer (in a mine or goldsmith's shop), 2.13.33 9 4.1 49
D. PINKA embedding of metals, gems and chemicals 2.14.34-42 PUTIKITTA dross or slag from furnace 2.14.23 PUDGALA an article made of gold or silver 2.14.7 and 43 PUSYARAGA a gem, yellow like turmeric 2.11.30 PRSATA making of beads (of gold etc.), a bead 2.13.40, 43 and 60; 2.14.45 PRSATAKARU a bead-maker 2.13.33 PETAKA enclosing of metals 2.14.26-33 PESAKA a grinder 1.21.10 PAUTAVA standardisation (from pu to refine) 2.19.1 PRATAPANA heating 4.8.22 PRAVALA coral 2.6.4; 2.11.42; 2.12.27 PRATI VEDHANIKA stamping of weights and measures 2.19.40, stamping fee 2.19.42 PRASTARA consisting of rocks 2.3.1 PHALAMLA sour fruit juice (acidic), 2.15.18, 2.25.39 BIMBA die for making coins 4.4.20 BIJA an alloy 2.12.24 BHASTRA skin bag, bellow 4.4.20 BHANDA article, container MANI RAGA the imparting of colour to gems, 1.18.8, 2.12.1
MANDALA a metal ball 2.19.13 D.7 MANAHSILA real gar, red arsenic sulphide 2.12.2, 2.14.48, realgar, 2.22.6, 14.2.17 MARJARAKSAKA cat's eye, a variation of beryl 2.11.39 MASAKA copper coin, 1/16 of a pana, 2.12.24, 2.13.15-16, 2.19.2 MUKTA pearl 2.6.4 MUKHALAVANA rock salt, salt from the Indus 1 and 2.29.43 MUDRA stamp, seal (later coin), 1.20.23, 2.21.2 and 26, 5.3.41, 11.1.25 MUSTIKA a hand-vice 4.4.20 MUSA a crucible, 2.12.1, 4.4.20 MUKAMUSA dummy crucible 2.14.23 YANTRA a machine 2.15.62, 2.18.1, 10.6.48; a mechanism, 1.20.2, 2.3.34, 2.5.2 YANTRIKA a mechanic 10.3.44 YAVAKSARA caustic ash of barley, 2.12.9; 2.15.15 YOGANJANA a poisonous collyrium which blinds 4.10.13 RASA a liquid ore 2.12.2 ore from streams (?) RASAPAKA the smelting of liquid ores 2.12.1-3 RASAVIDDHA smelted from liquid ores or obtained from streams (?) qualifying gold. Another kind of gold stated to be from the mines. 2.13.3. and 6
D.8 RUPA a coin 2.12.24; 5.2.61 RUPADARSAKA an examiner of coins 2.5.10, 2.9.28, 2.12.25, 4.1.4 RUPIKA coining fee, manufacturing charges, 2.12.26, 30 and 35; 2.6.10 RUPYA silver 2.12.5. and 6; 2.14.20 ROCANI the grinding mill 3.8.11 ROCANI DRSAD the mill stones 2.15.62; 2.18.15 LAKSANADHYAKSAH mint-master 2.12.24. LAVANADHYAKSAH master of salt works 2.12.28 LOHADHYAKSAH the director of metal-work 2.12.23 VAJRA diamond 2.6.4, 2.11.37, 2.12.27 VARNA colour or quality 2.14.5, 3.12.53, 4.1.30 VARNIKA the standard gold 213.17 VASAYA to gild 2.13.46 VASI TAKA gilding 2.14.17 VASTUKA the base or frame of a gold article 2.13.43, 2.14.35, 39 and 46 VIDA bi da salt containing chlorides of sodium and calcium, also sulphate and some red iron oxide (from sea-water) 2.15.15
D.' VIMAL AKA white-red gem from Vimala (Gimar) mountains. Carnelian? Pyrite ? 2.11.35, 2.12.6 10.4.17 VISTI sappers, miners and labourers, 9.2.9, 10.1.9 and 17, 10416 VIJA additive alloying element to harden 2.12.24 VRTTA steel or carburised iron 2.12.23, 2.17.14, 3.17.8, 4.1.35 VEDHANA which transmutes through smelting 2.12.3 and 5 VELLAKA an alloy of silver and iron in equal proportions 2.14.22 VAIKRNTAKA a kind of metal 2.12.16 and 23; 2.17.14, 4.1.35 Some special kind of alloy of iron? Later vaikranta meant a gem like diamond. VAI DURYA beryl 2.11.30 SANKHA conch-shell 2.6.4, 2.12.27, 7.12.24 SILAJATU bitumen or 'lac of the rock' 2.12.4 SUKTI oyster, nacre 2.11.35 SULKA duty, toll, 2.21.2 SULKASALA the customis house 2.21.1 SULVA two meanings: (1) copper 2.13.16 and 44; 2.14.20-22 and 30-3 (2) underground vein of metal 2.12.1 or water 2.24.1, 224.1 SVETATARA white silver 2.13.50, 51 and 54 SATTVA the metallic content (or essence) 2.12.7
D.10 SAMYUHA to coat, to plate 2.13.44, 2.14.48 SAMYUHYA the work of gold-plating 2.14.17, 26 and 50 SAMKARA impurity 3.14.38 SAMDHATYA fixing base metal in an article of gold or silver 2.14.17, 26 and 30 SAMDAMSA a pair of tongs 2.14.23 SASYAKA blue gem, copper sulphate 2.11.35, 2.12.5 SARA an article of high value 2.5.8, 2.7.2, 2.11.1 strength 1.16.9, 8.1.61 and 47; SISA lead 2.12.6, 13 and 24; 2.13.6 2.17.14, 4.1.39 SUVARCIKALAVANA borax 2.14.23 SUVARNA gold of fixed weight 16 masakas 2.19.3, 2.13.15, 48; 4.1. SUVARNA PAKA the smelting of gold 1.18.8 SUVARNADHYAKSA the superintendent of gold-works 2.13.1 SURYAKANTA sunstone gem 2.11.32 SAINDHAVIKA earth or sand from the river Indus 2.13.47 and 49 SAUGANDHIKA red gem spinel (or ruby?) 2.11.29
D.11 SAUVARCALA borax 2.15.15 SAUVARNIKA the state goldsmith 2.13.2; 2.14.1 and 11 SNEHA fat 2.15.64 SPHATIKA quartz, crystal 2.11.32 SRAVANMADHYA bluish gem 'having rays shooting like flowing water' 2.11.31 Asteriated or star sapphire. HARITALA yellow orpiment, arsenic sulphide 2.14.48, 2.22.6,14.2.1 HINGULUKA vermillion, mercuric sulphide 2.13.19 and 46, 2.14.34 and 48, 2.22.6 HIRANYA money, cash 1.13.6, 1.19.12