Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c45.s8.4

v2.c45.s8.4

There are six varieties of *tīkṣṇam* (5.76). The *khara* variety is hard, breaks on bending, free of *pogaras* (hair follicles or hair-like lines) and on fracture, exhibits mercury-like shining surfaces (5.77). The *sāra* variety, ‘obtained from white earth’, has *pogaras* and its edges can be destroyed quickly (5.78). The *hṛnnāla* variety is whitish black, has *pogara* and is hard to pierce (5.79). The brittle variety looking like hair follicle is known as *aṅga/vaṅga/pogara/tārāvaṭṭa* (5.80). *Vājira* looks greyish black, and is full of hard *pogaras*, overspread by dense thin linings (5.81). *Kālāyasa* is bluish black, dense, smooth, bright, and its sharpened edge is not spoiled by hammering (5.82). These *tīkṣṇa* varieties are hundred times better (*śatottaram*) than other non-*tīkṣṇa* varieties (5.83).