Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s9.1

v2.c41.s9.1

The Arthaśāstra specified that the Director of Metals (lohādhyakṣa) should establish factories for metals (other than gold and silver) viz., copper, lead, tin, vaikṛntaka (?), ārakūṭa or brass, vṛtta (steel?), kaṃsa (bronze), tāla (bell-metal) and loha (iron or simply metal?), and the corresponding metal-wares (2.12.23). Some comments on these names are called for.