History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c39.s2.5

v1.c39.s2.5

Jewel, grinding or sharpening stone, metalsmith or black- smith, bellows blowing air, melting gold or metal, sharpening metal. Gold, golden necklace, head ornament, ear-ring (*hiraṇya-karṇa*, 1.122.14), coin, silver, anklet, ring, breast-plate, bangle, copper (*ayasmaya tamba*, 5.30.15). Metallic leg, razor, bucket, cymbal, javelin or lance, lute, needle, scissor, sword, knife, sickle, ploughshare, shield, metal stick used for roasting meat, cooking vessel etc. The references to the blacksmiths, bellows, melting of metals and many artifacts of gold, silver and ayas (probably copper and bronze), and also of traders, river navigation, urban games like dice-playing, multi-storey buildings etc. clearly signify that the authors of the Rgveda were quite familiar with the urban life of the Harappan standard, notwithstanding their preferences for rural simplicity and religious fervour.