RATNASASTRA IN KAUTILYAS ARTHASASTRA (KA)

摘要

KA, 11, 28-41 is the earliest extant Sanskrit text on ratnasastra 'gemmology'. It is a branch oftraditional science and it reflects a great deal of experimental knowledge of jewellers. The presentpaper analyses the structure of the established text, seeks for an answer why the passages concern-ing diamond follow the list of the precious stones proper and why emerald is missing. The readingsoffered by the manuscripts and commentaries have been rechecked and the Kangle's text has beenrevised at places. The revised portions of the text have been retranslated and accompanied with thenecessary notes. From our investigations it has become clear that the extant text is very loosely ed-ited and highly problematic; the text presents a mixture of varttcirsastra (textbook of economy) andratnaKistra; there are terminological inconsistencies; it seems that gemmology had existed beforethe edition of the KA and the place of birth of this science was South India.