Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c49: Appendix C: Technical Terms Related to Minerals and Metals Mentioned in Pāṇini’s Aṣṭādhyāyī

Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c49

Language: English

Appendix C: Technical Terms Related to Minerals and Metals Mentioned in Pāṇini’s Aṣṭādhyāyī

v2.c49.2

*Adhikaraṇa* : substance, thing, object. (2.2.1, 2.1.49, 2.11, 3.2.124, 3.46, 6.1.34, 8.1.73).

v2.c49.3

*Adhikaraṇa Vicāla* : separating or distributing a substance. (5.3.43) *Vicāla* means change in number.

*Ayas* (*Āyas*) : probably metal and not merely iron. 5.4.94 states that *anas* (cart), *aśman* (rock), *ayas* (metal), *saras* (river) denote a genus or a name. Examples are *Kālāyasam*, *Lohitāyasam*. The former is *ajāti* or genus and the latter a *samjñā* or name.

v2.c49.5

अनस् अश्मन् अयस् सरस् इत्येवमन्तात् तत्पुरुषात्।
टच् प्रत्ययो भवति जातौ संज्ञायां च विषये।।
*anas aśman ayas saras ityevamantāt tatpuruṣāt |*
*ṭac pratyayo bhavati jātau samjñāyām ca viṣaye ||*

v2.c49.6

*Ayas Kaṃsa* : metal (iron or bell-metal ?) goblet. (8.3.46)

v2.c49.7

*Ayas Kāma* or *Ayas Kāra* : black smith. (8.3.46)

v2.c49.8

*Ayas Kumbha* : metal pot. (8.3.46)

v2.c49.9

*Ayas Kuśā* : metal rope. (8.3.46)

v2.c49.10

*Ayas Pātra* : metal vessel. (8.3.46)

v2.c49.11

*Ayasmaya* : made of metal, metallic. (1.4.20)

v2.c49.12

Words of this type ‘are valid forms in the Chandas (Veda)’ अयस्मय-आदीनि छन्दसि *ayasmaya ādini chandasi*

v2.c49.13

*Ayoghana* or *Ayoghaṇa* : metallic (iron) hammer or forge hammer-whereby the iron is deformed. Here the iron metal is clearly indicated.(3.3.82). The text 3.3.79 — 3.3.83 explains the use of *ghan* equivalent to *han* — destroy or deform. *Udghana* means carpenter’s bench. *Vighana* means hammer or mallet. *Drughana* or *Drughaṇa* means an axe (3.3.82). *Stambaghana* means small hoe for weeding clumps of grass. *Parigha* or *Paligha* (3.3.84 and 8.2.22) means ‘an iron beam used for locking or shutting the gate, an iron club’.

v2.c49.14

*Ayo-Vikāra* : iron work, iron fabric. (4.1.42)

v2.c49.15

*Āyaḥ-Śūlika* : iron spike or a daring courageous person. (5.2.76)

v2.c49.16

*Aśman* : stone, rock. (4.2.80., 5.4.94, 6.2.9)

v2.c49.17

*Aśmara* : pertaining to stone or gravel. (4.2.80)

v2.c49.18

*Aśmārma* : stones of a ruin. (6.2.91)

v2.c49.19

*Ākarika* : miner, mining officer, mining revenue. (4.3.75). *Ayasthāna* means income of the treasury or *Saulkaśalika* derived from custom house. *Ākarikam* is ‘revenue derived from mines’.

v2.c49.20

*Ākarṣa* : attraction, touchstone. (4.4.9)

v2.c49.21

*ākarṣa iti suvarṇa parikṣārtho nikaṣopala ucyate* — a touchstone by which gold is tested, a streak plate.

v2.c49.22

*Ākarṣaka* : expert in using a touch stone. (5.2.64)

v2.c49.23

*Āsu* : to press out (*soma* juice), to distil. (3.1.126)

v2.c49.24

*Āsutivala* : who prepares Soma, distiller. (5.2.112., 6.3.118)

v2.c49.25

*Iṣṭaka* : brick. (6.3.65)

v2.c49.26

*Utkara* : anything dug out. (4.2.90)

v2.c49.27

*Utpāva* : purifying (*ghī* etc.) using fire. (3.3.49)

v2.c49.28

*Uttama-Naiṣkika* : worth the highest *niṣka* (gold coin). (5.1.20)

v2.c49.29

*Uda-Peṣam* : grinding in water. (6.3.58)

v2.c49.30

*Upacāyyapṛḍa* : gold, associated with *Upacāyya*, a Vedic sacrificial fire. (3.1.123 and 3.1.131). The usage is from the *Chhanda* (Vedas).

v2.c49.31

*Upajñā* : invention, discovery. (2.4.21., 6.2.14)

v2.c49.32

*Upajñāta* : invented, discovered (for the first time). (4.3.115)

v2.c49.33

*Upajñātopakrama* : application (*upakrama*) of the invention (*upajñā*). (2.4.21).

v2.c49.34

*Uraśchada* : breast-plate, armour. (6.4.96)

v2.c49.35

*Uṣita* : burnt. (8.3.60)

v2.c49.36

*Ūṣa* : salt ground, saline soil. (5.2.107)

v2.c49.37

*Ūṣara* : impregnated with salt, salty, saline. (5.2.107)

v2.c49.38

*Uṣman* : heat, glow, hot vapour. (3.1.16)

v2.c49.39

*Uṣmāya* : to emit heat or vapour, to steam. (3.1.16) The idea is to emit vapour or heat.

v2.c49.40

*Kaṃsa* : vessel, goblet or vessel made of metal, *ayaskaṃsa*, also *payaskaṃsa*, drinking vessel made of metal, or for drinking milk. (6.2.122., 8.3.46)

v2.c49.41

*Kaṃsika* : relating to or made of bell-metal. (5.1.25)

v2.c49.42

*Kaṃsiya* or *Kāṃsya* : relating to bell metal, bell-metal (4.3.168). Does it indicate white copper or brass also ? Brass is yellow.

v2.c49.43

*Kajjala* : lamp-black used as collyrium. (6.2.91)

v2.c49.44

*Karmakāra* : labourer (3.2.22). *Karmāra* (*Ṛgveda*).

v2.c49.45

*Kāṃsya* : white copper, bell-metal, brass (?) (4.3.168).

v2.c49.46

*Kārṣāpaṇa* : coin or weight. (5.1.29) *Kāra* means tax, toll, royal revenue. (6.3.10)

v2.c49.47

*Kalāyasa* : iron, made of iron. *Kalāyasam iti jātiḥ* (5.4.94). Many kinds of black metal and one kind of red metal (copper) ?

v2.c49.48

*Kuṭṭa* : to cut, crush, bruise. (3.2.155)

v2.c49.49

*Kupya* : base metal other than gold and silver. (3.1.114)

v2.c49.50

*Kṣara* : distillation. (6.3.16)

v2.c49.51

*Kṣaraja* : produced by distillation. (6.3.16)

v2.c49.52

*Kṣariti* : to flow, glide, distil. (7.2.34) Distillation of mercury and zinc known?

v2.c49.53

*Kṣāma* : scorched. (8.2.53)

v2.c49.54

*Kṣāmavat* : charred, burnt to coal/ash. (8.2.53)

v2.c49.55

*Khan* : to dig, delve. (3.1.111, 3.2.67, 3.2.184, 3.3.125, 4.4.2, 6.4.42 and 43, 6.4.54, 6.4.98, 7.4.62) refers to usage in the Vedas of the words compounding *Khan* e.g., *Kupakhāḥ*.

v2.c49.56

— digger of well (*kupa + khan + vit*) “जन-सन-खन-क्रम-गमः; विट् (छन्दसि, उपसर्गे)” *jana-sana-khana-krama-gamaḥ, viṭ (chandasi, upasarge)* 3.2.184 refers to words with affix

v2.c49.57

*Itra* after verbs like *khan*; *Sraritram* — a rudder; *Lavitram* — a sickle from; *Lu* (to cut); *Dhavitram* — a fan; *Sabitram* — cause of production; *Khanitram* — a spade; *Caritra* — an instituted observance or character after *Car* or to go. These words imply *Karaṇa* or instrumental *Kāraka*.

v2.c49.58

श्रर्ति-लू-धू-सू-खन-सह-चरः; इत्रः *śrarti-lū-dhū-sū-khana-saha-caraḥ, itraḥ*

v2.c49.59

*Ākhanika* or *Ākhanikavaka* means spade. *Khanati* means digging. Various declinations of the verb in different tenses e.g., *khanayate, khāyate, caṅkhanayate, cikhaniṣati* etc.

v2.c49.60

*Khanitra* or *Ākhana* or *Ākhanika* or *Ākhanikavaka* : spade. (3.2.184 and 3.3.125).

v2.c49.61

*Khanya* or *Khānya* : coming from excavations or ditches (3.1.123). This and similar words ‘were mentioned in the *Chhandas* or the *Vedas*’. The word *Khanija* or mineral not mentioned by Pāṇini, but must have been known.

v2.c49.62

*Kheya* : to be dug out, that can be dug out. (3.1.111)

v2.c49.63

*Ghana* : compact, solid, hard, firm, dense. (3.3.77-78)

v2.c49.64

*Ghana* or *Ghṇa* : substitute of *Han* — kill. See *Ayoghana* or *Ayoghṇa* etc.

v2.c49.65

*Ghoṣa* : noise, tumult, cry. Not yet standing for a metal. (6.3.56)

v2.c49.66

*Cūrṇaya* : pulverize, grind, pound, to reduce to powder. (3.1.25). *Cūrṇa* etc.

v2.c49.67

*Jambhaka* : crushing, devouring using jaws and teeth. (7.1.61) *Jambhan* etc.

v2.c49.68

*Jātarūpa* : gold (beautiful when it appears) (4.3.153). All words for gold indicating weight or measure end with *an* e.g. *suvarṇa, svarṇa, hiraṇya* etc.

v2.c49.69

जातरूपेभ्यः—परिमाणे (अण्) *jātarūpebhyah — parimāṇe (aṇ)*

v2.c49.70

*Jvala* : to burn brightly, blaze, glow, flame (3.1.140., 3.2.150). *Jvalana* etc.

v2.c49.71

*Tṛṇah* : to crush, bruise. (7.3.92)

v2.c49.72

*Trapu* : tin. (4.3.138). Modification (*vikāra*) of *Trapu* (tin) or made of tin is *Trāpuṣam*. Modification of *Jatu* (lac) is *Jātuṣam*.

v2.c49.73

त्रपुतुशब्दाभ्याम प्रत्ययो भवति विकारे, तत् सन्नियोगेन तयोः षुगागमो भवति । trapujatuśabdābhyāmaṇa pratyayo bhavati vikāre tat sanniyogena tayoḥ ṣugāgamo bhavati ।

v2.c49.74

*Dātra* : sickle, crooked knife, (3.2.182, 8.4.52).

v2.c49.75

*Dṛṣadvat* : rocky, stony, (8.2.10). *Dṛṣad* is rock, big which can be seen (*Dṛṣṭa*) *Samidh-Dṛṣada* is fire-wood, coal? (5.4.106).

v2.c49.76

*Drava* : flowing, fluid. (3.3.27) *Pradrāva* means something flowing away or fugitive. The word derived from *dru*. In the *Ṛgveda* we have *Drāva*, *Drāvin* to mean something which can be melted e.g. gold.

v2.c49.77

*Dravya* : substance, object. (4.3.161, 5.3.104)

v2.c49.78

*Dhama* or *Dhmā* : to blow, blowing (3.1.137 and 7.3.78) *Uddhama* — the act of blowing into (*agnisaṃyogayoḥ*) by fan.

v2.c49.79

*Dhavitra* : a fan. (3.2.184).

v2.c49.80

*Dhātu* : verbal base or root. Not yet metal in Pāṇini. Probably the usage had started.

v2.c49.81

*Niṣka* : gold coin denoting metallic currency or unit of money. *Dviniṣka*, *Triniṣka*, *Bahunaiṣkikam* etc. (5.1.30). *Uttamanaiṣkika* — worth the highest *niṣka* (5.1.20) . Some form (*rūpa*) of king embossed (*āhatam*) *Rūpyaḥ*. *Dināraḥ* or *Kedāraḥ* gold coins of Kedāra Kuṣāṇas (5.2.120). रूपात्, आहत, प्रशंसयोः, यप् *rūpāt, āhata, prasaṃsayoḥ, yap*

v2.c49.82

Origin of *Raupya*? *Māṣa*. also denoted a particular weight of gold. *Ardha* or *Trimāṣya* etc. (5.1.34).

v2.c49.83

*Niṣka* originated probably from *Niṣaya* binding, meaning financial bond.

v2.c49.84

*Niṣ-Kuṣita* : extracted, stripped off. (8.3.41)

v2.c49.85

*Niṣ-Koṣana* : extraction, husking, shelling, disemboweling, to bring the inner organs out, to eviscerate. Similar to *Niṣkula* — to make the enemy family-less, to remove the seeds of pomegranate. 5.4.62 "niṣkulāt niṣkoṣaṇe (ḍāc)"

v2.c49.86

*Paṇa* : weight of copper used as coin (5.1.34) *paṇaḥ parimāṇe*. See also *Karṣāpaṇa*.

v2.c49.87

*Paṇi* : vaṇika or trader in the Vedas.

v2.c49.88

*Paṇya* : an article of trade, worth so many *paṇas*. (3.1.101) etc.

v2.c49.89

*Padārtha* : thing, material, object. (1.4.96)

v2.c49.90

*Pari-Pavana* : cleaning or winnowing corn (8.4.34). *Pu* means to purify *Pāvaka* the purifier. *Pavana* — air. Thus, *Pari-Pavana* means purification by pneumatic jigging, through descent aganist (*pari*) drag in wind (*pavana*).

v2.c49.91

*Pari-Mṛja* : wash, cleanse. (3.2.5) *Parimārjanā*.

v2.c49.92

*Pari-Vāpaṇa* : to shave (5.4.67). *Kṣura* in RV.

v2.c49.93

*Pareṅkhaṇa* or *Pareṅgaṇa* : separating, shaking away. (8.4.32)

v2.c49.94

*Parśu* : curved knife, sickle or axe. (5.3.117)

v2.c49.95

*Pāka* : baking, cooking, roasting. (4.1.64, 5.2.24)

v2.c49.96

*Pātra* : drinking vessel, goblet, bowl, cup, dish. (8.3.46, 5.2.7., 5.4.46 and 53)

v2.c49.97

*Pārāyaṇa* : going over, studying. (5.1.72)

v2.c49.98

*Pārā* : mercury. The word does not appear in Pāṇini. *Pārā* means going over or distillation?

v2.c49.99

*Pāva* : purifying, clarifying, cleansing. (3.3.49, 3.3.28). *Utpāva* distillation, evaporation? *Nispāva* is winnowing or purification through downward movement.

v2.c49.100

*Piṣṭa* : crushed, bruised, ground. (4.3.146)

v2.c49.101

*Piṣṭaka* : cake, made of flour or agglomerate of fine particles. (4.3.147)

v2.c49.102

*Pūta* : cleansed, purified, pure, clear. (6.2.187) This is from *Pu* or to purify.

v2.c49.103

*Pūti* : putrid, foul-smelling, stinking, fetid. (5.4.135) *Pūti* + *Gandha* = *Pūtigandhi* The rule is given in 5.4.135:

v2.c49.104

उत् पूति, सु सुरभि इति एतेभ्यः परस्य गन्धशब्दस्य इकारदेशो भवति समासान्त बहुव्रीहौ समासे *ut pūti, su surabhi iti etebhyaḥ parasya gandhaśabdasya* *ikāradeśobhavati samāsānta bahuvrihau samase*

v2.c49.105

Copper and other sulphide minerals were purified (*Pūta*) in the furnace which produced foul (*Pūti*) smell (*Gahdha*) of sulphur dioxide. Thus furnace is *Pūtigandhi*.

v2.c49.106

*Peṣam* : pounding, grinding. (3.4.35 and 38, 6.3.58). *Piṣ* means to grind. Grinding dry (*śuṣka* — or *Rūkṣa*). Grinding to Powder (*Cūrṇa*). These are accusative cases. The instrumental case corresponds to grinding by means of liquid (Snehana) e.g. Udpeṣam means grinding with water. Tailapeṣam grinding with oil.

v2.c49.107

शुष्क-चूर्ण-रूक्षेषु, पिष; (कर्मणिणमुल) (3.4.35) *śuṣka-cūrṇa-rūkṣeṣu, piṣaḥ, (karmaṇiṇamul)* स्नेहनाचिनि करण उपपदे पिषेद्धातोः णमुल प्रत्ययो भवति। (3.4.38) *snehanavācini karaṇa upapade piṣerddhātoḥ ṇamul pratyayo bhavati.*

v2.c49.108

*Prati-Śina* or *Prati-Śinavat* : melted, fluid, dropping. (6.1.25)

v2.c49.109

*Prati-Snāta* : bathed, washed. (8.3.90)

v2.c49.110

*Prapavana* : purifying or straining (Soma juice) or filtering. (8.4.34) Derived from the verb *pu*.

v2.c49.111

*Pramāṇa* : measure, scale, quantity, standard, authority. (3.4.51, 4.1.24, 5.2.37, 6.2.4 and 12) The idea of ‘proof’ originated from the sense of referring a standard or previously accepted yardstick.

v2.c49.112

*Pramāthin* or *Pramatha* : to churn or stir up violently. (3.2.145)

v2.c49.113

*Pralaya* : melting, dissolution, annihilation, death. (7.3.2)

v2.c49.114

*Prāleya* : produced by melting. (7.3.2) *Prāleyam Udakam*, i.e., melting to a liquid.

v2.c49.115

*Phulla* : split or cleft open, expanded, blown (as flower). (8.2.55)

v2.c49.116

*Phena* : foam, froth, scum. *Phenala, Phenila, Phenavat*. (5.2.97 and 99)

v2.c49.117

*Bista* : a particular weight of gold (= 80 ratikās). (4.1.22., 5.1.31)

v2.c49.118

*Bhaṅgura* : fragile, perishable, breakable. (3.2.161)

v2.c49.119

*Bhastrā* : a leather bag or vessel, skin, pouch. *Bhastrikaḥ* or *Bhastrikā* means something or somebody transporting by means of a leather bag. *Bhastrayā Harati*. Leather bellows by which iron is heated or grain is carried. *Bhara* = carry, bear.

v2.c49.120

भस्त्र इति एवम् आदिभ्यः तृतिया समर्थेभ्यः हरतीत्येतस्मिन्नर्थे ष्ठन्प्रत्ययो भवति। (4.4.16) *bhastra iti evam ādibhyaḥ tṛtiyāsamarthebhyaḥ haratityetasminnarthe ṣṭhanpratyayo bhavati* *Śvan + Bhastrā = Śvābhastri* “ज्व, आदेः इञि” (7.3.8) *jva, ādeḥ iñi* *Śvābhastri* means something made of dog leather. *Bahubhastrika* means a furnace with many leather bellows (?) (7.3.47)

v2.c49.121

*Bhāṇḍa* : vessel, pot, dish, vat etc. (3.1.20)

v2.c49.122

*Bhās* : lustre, brightness. (3.2.21, 3.2.177)

v2.c49.123

*Bhāsa* : to shine. (3.2.161, 7.4.3)

v2.c49.124

*Bhāsana, Bhāsura, Bhāskara, Bhāsvat, Bhāsvara* : shining, brilliant, luminous, radiant, bright, glittering. (1.3.47, 3.2.161, 3.2.21, 3.2.175, 8.2.9)

v2.c49.125

*Bhida* : to split, cleave, break. (3.2.61)

v2.c49.126

*Bhid* or *Bhidura* : breaking, splitting, piercing, destroying (wood etc.). (3.2.61 and 162)

v2.c49.127

*Bhinna* : split, broken. (8.2.42 and 59)

v2.c49.128

*Bhuvar* or *Bhuvas* : air, atmosphere, one of the three *mahāvyāhrtis*, *bhu*, *bhuvas* (in the Vedas) or *Bhuvar*, and *Swar* or *Swaḥ* (heaven).

v2.c49.129

भुवस् इत्येतस्य महाव्याहृतेः छन्दसि विषये उभयथा भवति। 8.2.71 : *bhuvas ityetasya mahāvyāhṛteḥ chandasi viṣaye ubhayathā bhavati* |

v2.c49.130

*Bhū* : becoming, being, the world, universe, earth. (3.2.179, 6.2.19)

v2.c49.131

*Bhūmi* : the earth, soil, ground, territory. (8.3.97)

v2.c49.132

*Bhettṛ* or *Bhedana* : breaking, cleaving, splitting. (7.3.86)

v2.c49.133

*Bhrajj, Bhṛjjati, Bhrasj, Bhraṣṭavya* : to fry, parch, roast, fried, roasted etc. (6.1.16, 6.4.47, 8.2.36)

v2.c49.134

*Bhraṣṭavya* : to be parched or roasted. (6.4.47 and 8.2.36)

v2.c49.135

*Bhraṣṭṛ* : one who roasts or parches. (6.4.47 and 8.2.36) Does it also mean the furnace-man? The word is so close to *Bhaṣṭrika*. *Bhrāṣṭra* is grid iron or frying pan. (8.4.50)

v2.c49.136

*Bhraj* : light, lustre, splendour. (3.2.177, 8.2.36)

v2.c49.137

*Bhraja* : to shine, glitter, sparkle. (3.2.177)

v2.c49.138

*Bhrāsa* : (7.4.3, 8.2.36)

v2.c49.139

*Majjana* : cleansing. (7.1.60)

v2.c49.140

*Maṇi* : a jewel, gem, pearl, precious stone (that which decorates, adorns, embellishes or *Maṇḍa* ?) (5.4.30). See *Lohitaka*

v2.c49.141

*Maṇi-Prastāra* : Scattering or vein of gems. (3.3.32)

v2.c49.142

*Maṇḍa* or *Maṇḍana* : to decorate, adorn. (3.2.151)

v2.c49.143

*Maṇḍala* : circular, round, disc.

v2.c49.144

*Maṇḍūka* : a *rṣi*.

v2.c49.145

*Matha* or *Mantha* : to stir, churn. (3.2.145, 5.1.110, 6.3.60)

v2.c49.146

*Māṣa* or *Māṣya* : a particular weight of gold. See *Niṣka* (5.1.34)

v2.c49.147

*Mur* : becoming solid, thickening, congealing (6.4.21). *Mūrta*, *Mūrti* congealed to solidity and shape. *bhakti hime mūrti sākāra rūpa* — Ramakrishna. See *Mūrti* later.

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*Muṣa* : to steal, rob, plunder. (1.2.8) *Asmoṣī*, a thief. *Mūṣikakā*, a little rat or mouse, (7.3.46) *Muṣka*, testicle, scrotum.

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*Mūṣā* : crucible does not appear in Pāṇini. Probabaly the word came from *Mūṣika* or rat.

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*Mūrchi* : to became solid, thicken, congeal. (8.2.78)

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*Mūrta* : as above. (8.2.57)

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*Mūrti* : any solid body or material form. (3.3.77) It means hardness, solidity, loss of fluidity (ghan), as in the case of curd, solidified metal etc. 3.3.77 : *mūrttau ghanaḥ, (hanaḥ, ap)* *Abhra-Ghana* means cloud. *Dadhi-Ghana* (6.1.24) explains *Drava-Murti*, i.e., hardening or coagulation of a fluid as in butter, grease, molten metal etc. as understood by coldness through touch or coagulation. (*śīna*) द्रवमूर्त्तौ द्रवकाठिन्ये स्पर्शे वर्तमानस्यश्रेङ्गतौ इत्यस्य धातोः निष्ठायां परतः संप्रसारणं भवति। (शीन) *dravamūrttau dravakāṭhinye sparśe vartamānasyasryeṅgatau ityasya dhātoḥ niṣṭhāyām parataḥ samprasāraṇam bhavati (śīna)* *sīnam ghṛtam, śīnā vasā* (means coagulation) *sīta* refers to coldness.

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*Mrja* : to wipe, rub, clean, polish, cleanse, purify. (8.2.36) *Kamsa-Parimṛt* means cleaning of metallic vessel or bell metal surface. (8.2.36)

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*Mṛta* : dead, deceased. (6.2.116)

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Mṛd : earth, soil, clay, loam, mud. (5.4.39) That which can be squeezed, pounded etc.

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Mṛttikā : earth, clay, loam. (5.4.39) explains how the word has come from Mṛd with optional affix Tikan

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मृत् शब्दात् स्वार्थे तिकन् प्रत्ययो भवति
mṛt śabdāt svārthe tikan pratyayo bhavati

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Mṛtsā and Mṛtsnā : good earth or clay or excellent soil (5.4.40) explains that the word is based upon Mṛd and the idea of excellence.

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प्रशंसोपाधिकेर्थे वर्तमानान् मृत्शब्दात् सस्न इत्येतौ प्रत्ययौ भवतः
praśamsopādhikerthe vartamānān mṛtśabdāt sasna ityetau pratyayau bhavataḥ

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Mṛda : to press, squeeze, crush, pound, smash. (1.2.7)

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Mṛdu : very soft, tender. (8.1.12)

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Rajata : silver.

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Rājata : made of silver, silvery (4.3.154) explains how the affix aṇ comes in the sense of its product or its part. Rajata-Rājata ; Sīsa-Saisam (lead); Loha-Lauham (iron) etc. prāṇi-rajatādibhyaḥ-aṇ

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Rūkṣa : rough, dry, arid.

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Rūkṣa-Peṣam : dry grinding. (3.4.35)

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Rocanā : a particular yellow pigment.

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Raucanikā : yellowish, coloured with yellow pigment (4.2.2) deals with other colouring agents e.g. Lākṣā (lac) Lākṣikam; Śakala, Kardama, Haridrā Hāridram. These are mostly organic natural dyes.

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Lava and Lavana : cutting, cutting off. (3.3.28)

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Lavaka : cutter.

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Lavaṇa : salt, saline, briny. (3.1.21, 4.4.24)

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Lāvaṇika : a salt vendor. (4.4.52)

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Lavaṇīya : to function like salt. (7.1.51)

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Lavaṇasya : to desire salt. (7.1.51)

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Lavitra : a sickle, reaping hook. (3.2.184)

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Lākṣā : lac, red dye. (4.2.2)

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Lū : to cut, sever, divide.

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*Lohitaka* : of red colour, reddish. *Lohita* (red) plus affix *Kan* becomes *Lohitaka* in the sense it is *Maṇi* (gem). *Lohitaka* is ruby. (5.4.30) says “*lohitāt, maṇau kan*” *Lohitikā* means reddened with dye (*Lākṣā*).

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*Lohitāyasa* : red metal, copper, made of it. (5.4.94). See note on *Ayas*.

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*Lauha* : iron. Does not appear in Pāṇini. Probably known as *Kālāyasa*, and later *Lauha* from *Lu* or *Lava* to cut, not from *Lohita*.

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*Varṇa* : colour, tint. (4.1.42, 6.2.3)

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*Varman* : defensive armour. (3.1.25, 6.4.170)

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*Vārka-Rūpya* : stamped with *Vṛka* die. (4.2.106)

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*Vikaṣa* : to shine, be radiant. (3.2.143)

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*Vikira* : scatter.

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*Vighana* : hurt, mallet, hammer. (3.3.82) See *Ayoghana*

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*Vinīya* : sediment, sin. (3.1.117)

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*Viparśu* : separated from the side. (6.2.177). See *Parśu* (5.3.117)

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*Vipātana* : melting, liquefying (7.3.39) refers to melting of fat. *Sneha Vipātana*. *Mahābhāṣya* adds *Loham Vilāpayati* — copper melts ?

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*Vibhakta* : isolation, separation, seclusion. (2.3.42)

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*Vibhāga* : partition, division, allotment, share (3.3.137). *Kāla Vibhāga*.

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*Viśīrṇa* : broken, shattered, scattered, dispersed from the word *śṛ*. (8.2.42 and 77)

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*Vista* : a particular weight of gold. (4.1.22) Also *Bista* — a weight of gold equal to 80 *Raktikas*.

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Thus *Dvi-Vista*, *Tri-Bista* etc.

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*Vaidūrya* : a cat’s eye gem (4.3.84) says that this is obtained from *Vidura* plus affix *ya* in the sense ‘what manifests itself there’. In the *Bhāṣya* it is added that the gem was actually found in the mountain of *Vālavāya*. The rough stone used to be worked upon in the city of *Vidura*. Pāṇini had made the two names synonymous. Anyway the city was evidently the source of polished gem of *Vaidūrya*.

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“विदुरात्-ज्यः।।’’ वृत्तिः।। विदूरशब्दात् ज्यः प्रत्ययो भवति ततः प्रभवति इति एतस्मिन् विषये।। “vidūrat-ñyaḥ । vṛttiḥ ।। vidūraśabdāt ñyaḥ pratyayo bhavati tataḥ prabhavati iti etasmin viṣaye ।। कारिका: वालवायो विदूरं च प्रकृत्यन्तरमेव वा। न वै तत्रेति चेद् ब्रूयात् जित्वरीवदुपाचरेत् ।। kārikā : vālavāyo vidūraṃ ca prakṛtyantarameva vā । na vai tatreti ced brūyāt jitvarivadupācaret ।

Linked texts (3)

Aṣṭādhyāyī — Pāṇini, Sanskrit
Veda — Sanskrit
Ṛgvedasaṃhitā — Sanskrit