History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c17.s3.t3.4

v1.c17.s3.t3.4

The *Mahābhārata* (12.46.33) has used another name for emerald, and that is *masāragalu*, *masāra* or *masāraka*. Monnier-Williams explains in his Sanskrit dictionary that Egypt was named as *Miśar* or *Misar* in Sanskrit, and *galu* means a gem. Therefore *masaragalu* may be interpreted as the gem from Egypt, and that is consistent with the etymological origin of *marakatā* as suggested, for the first time, by us. The 4th century A.D. Prakrt text *Aṅgavijjā* (58.20) mentions *veruliya*, *maragata* as well as *masārakalla*, meaning beryl and emerald.