Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s12.2

v2.c41.s12.2

Standard weights were made of iron or metallic stone from Magadha or Mekala hills which would not be affected by heat or water (2.19.10). Ten masa-beans were taken as equivalent in weight to one masaka of gold, which was one-sixteenth of one suvarna or karsa (2.19.2-3). Eighty-eight white mustard seeds make one masaka of silver which is two-fifth of gold masaka. Manu (8.134-135) gives the same ratio between the gold and the silver masakas. A pala is equivalent to four karsas and ten dharanas. A dharana of diamond weighs twenty rice-grains (2.19.2-7).