Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t13.74

v2.c43.s3.t13.74

The fact that the necessity of coining such nomenclatures (as mentioned in the previous paragraph) was felt, shows that there must have been in the ancient India brisk trade in pearls. The differences in the nomenclatures used by Varāhamihira and Buddhabhaṭṭa shows that their texts refer to practices in different regions or periods. It was made clear in all the ancient texts that the price tariff was for good pearls only. Discoloured and/or disfigured pearls fetched lower prices at specified rates of discount (*Bṛ. Saṃ.*, 81.18-19).