Sutra 46

Devanagari script

चतुर्भागसुवर्णं वा वालुकाहिङ्गुलुकस्य रसेन चूर्णेन वा वासयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१३.४६ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhāgasuvarṇaṃ vā vālukāhiṅgulukasya rasena cūrṇena vā vāsayet

Translation

He should steep/impregnate one-fourth part of gold with the juice (extract) or the powder of vālukā-hiṅgula (a cinnabar-like mineral preparation).

Word by Word

• चतुर्भागसुवर्णम्: a quarter-part of a suvarṇa (a specified weight/measure of gold)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; चतुर्भागस्य सुवर्णम् = सुवर्णस्य चतुर्थांशः (प्रमाणवाचक)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (either/or)

• वालुका: sand (as an ingredient/substance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालुका
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (विधेय/उपादानद्रव्य)

• हिङ्गुलुकस्य: of hiṅguluka (cinnabar)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिङ्गुलुक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, षष्ठी

• रसेन: with the juice/extract
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (करण)

• चूर्णेन: with powder
• Type: Noun
• Root: चूर्ण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (करण)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• वासयेत्: should impregnate/steep/treat (it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वास् (वासयति)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रयोगः (आज्ञा/विधि), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative) — ‘वासयति’ = सुगन्धित/रञ्जित/संस्कारितं करोति

Entities Mentioned

• suvarṇa (gold)
• hiṅgula (cinnabar-like mineral)
• rasa (extract)
• cūrṇa (powder)

More Details

FAQs

Why would the state care about specifying a mineral treatment for gold?

Because controlled treatments and recipes support consistent appearance/quality in state workshops and reduce fraud in trade, taxation, and minting.

What administrative function does such a recipe serve?

It functions as a standardized operating procedure (SOP) for artisans under state supervision, enabling inspection and accountability.