Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s2: Indian Topography of the Mineral Resources
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s2
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Indian Topography of the Mineral Resources
v2.c41.s2.1
The Arthaśāstra clearly reveals that the then India was no longer a cluster of small-sized states, but had grown to be a big nation. Earlier accustomed to the trade-routes across the Himalayas, the North Indian empire now opened up its trade-links with the South, specially to acquire pearl, conch-shell, diamond, ruby and gold (7.12.22-24). The South was the land of the sandalwood (2.11.43). The best elephants and therefore best ivory came from the east viz, Aṅga and Kaliṅga (Assam and Ōrissa) (2.2.15).
v2.c41.s2.2
Gems and pearls came from the Mountain Malayakoṭi in the Pāṇḍya kingdom, river Cūrṇī in Kerala and ‘even from beyond the sea’ pārasamudraśca, i.e., Sri Lanka, its river Kulā near Mayuragrāma (2.11.2 & 28).
v2.c41.s2.3
The state maintained its shipping boats or rājanau, and these could be utilised by the traders and those fishing for conch-shells and pearls, against suitable payment (2.28.4-5). The boats plied on the trade-route along the coast instead of moving into the high sea (7.12.21). The references to the import of red coral from Alexandria (2.11.42) and the worship of the Mahākaccha or the Gulf of Cutch before the naval journey (4.3.12 & 15) authenticate the Indian maritime trade with the Persian and Mediterranean Sea countries.
Linked texts (1)
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit