Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c43.s3.t4.20

v2.c43.s3.t4.20

The Mahābhārata (12.46.33) has used another name for emerald, and that is masāragalu, masāra or masāraka. Monier-Williams explains in his Sanskrit Dictionary that Egypt was named as Misar or Misar in Sanskrit, and galu means a gem. Therefore masāragalu may be interpreted as the gem from Egypt, and that is consistent with the etymological origin of marakata explained earlier. The fourth century AD Prākṛt text Aṅgavijjā (58.20) mentions veruliya, maragata as well as masārakalla.