Essay name: Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature
Author:
Sulekha Biswas
Affiliation: Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj University / Department of Sanskrit
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.
Chapter 5 - Minerals and Metals in Kautiliya Arthashastra
22 (of 31)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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V-22
had always been known in India as trapu. The other name Kastira
came into vogue later during the Greek influence in India; Kastira
was possibly derived from the Greek word 'cassiterite' (tin
ore).
Another Greek word 'oreichaleos', denoting brass or the copp
zinc alloy, was probably converted to arakuta during the time
of Kautilya. Although some copper artefacts, discovered in the
archaeological sites of Lothal and atranjikhera (2000 and 1000 B.C.
respective dates), contained zinc, the actual manufacture of brass
articles in India must have started around 400 B.C. in Taxila. The
Arthas stra's references to 膩rak奴ta (2.12.23; 2.17.14; 4.1.35) and
to red lead gandhara (2.14.35), a product from Gandhara, testify
the author's familiarity with the North-West Indie of the period
fourth century before Christ. The author was most likely 膶anakya
or Visnugupta himself.
On Vaikrntaka, Vrtta and T墨ksna
We have already discussed the unsolved puzzle regarding
the identity of vaikintaka. All we know is that it was a metal or
alloy prepared from its ore or dhatu (2.12.16) which, according to
Roy (1946: 113), could be magnetite. Vaikintaka has been referred se
times (2.12.23; 4.1.35 etc.) with vitta, which is identified by many
scholars including Kangle, as steel. In one place (2.17.14),
vaikintaka and vrtta have been mentioned with Kalevasa, which is
