Indus Script hypertexts: form and function, archaeometallurgical context of Bronze Age

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 Hypertext in Indus Script is a combination of hieroglyphs to create both pictorial motifs and 'signs'. The function of a hypertext is to make a mint-/metal-work entry in kharaḍā खरड़ा the wealth accounting ledger. 

 Hieroglyph to signify kharaḍā खरड़ा is  kharaḍā खरड़ा 'currycomb' rebus: करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. (Marathi). 

 This will be demonstrated by the decipherment of Harappa tablet h978 with Indus Script hypertexts.
 
Three sided tablet. Decipherment of the hypertexts: 

Side 1: kolom 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' PLUS dhāī˜'dotted circle, single strand of thread' (Lahnda) rebus: dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ(Marathi) धवड (p. 436) [dhavaḍa] m (Or धावड) A class or an individual of it. They are smelters of iron (Marathi).

Side 2: kolom 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' PLUS baṭa 'rimless pot' rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace' 

Side 3: baraḍo 'spine, backbone' rebus: bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin);
kanka, karṇika 'rim of jar'  rebus: karṇika 'engraved, accounted, scribed, supercargo, helmsman'
khareḍo 'curry comb' rebus: करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c.
Image result for bharatkalyan97 currycombkhareḍo = a currycomb (Gujarati) खरारा [ kharārā ] m ( H) A currycomb. 2 Currying a horse. (Marathi) Rebus: 1. करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. (Marathi) 2. kharādī ‘ turner’ (Gujarati)Seal m 290 Mohenjo-daroIndus Script epigraph deciphered: kol 'working in iron' + pattar 'goldsmith guild' + ṭāṅka ʻleg, thighʼ (Oriya) PLUS khar 'ass, onager' (Kashmiri) PLUS  kharedo = a currycomb (Gujarati) deciphered as: ṭaṅka 'mint' PLUS khār खार् 'blacksmith' PLUS kharādī ‘ turner’ (Gujarati) Tiger PLUS (trough -- broken seal): kola 'tiger' Rebus; kolle 'blacksmith' kol 'working in iron' kole.l 'smithy, temple' kolimi 'smithy, forge' PLUS pattar 'trough' Rebus: pattar 'guild of goldsmiths'.

The orthographic device of hypertexts is a unique feature of Indus Script as detailed in the following sections with select examples from Indus Script Corpora:

Section A: Hypertexts of signs
Section B: Hypertexts of pictorial motifs

Hieroglyphs are words. 

Hypertext is an expression composed of hieroglyphs (words). 

Hypertext is a logical connection of words to communicate the purport (the meaning or sense of something, typically a document or speech) of a composite message. 

Hypertext is anvaya, अन्व्-य connection , association , being linked to or concerned with the natural order or connection of words in a sentence , syntax , construing logical connection of words; logical connection of cause and effect , or proposition and conclusion; drift , tenor , purport.

Section A: Hypertexts of signs of Indus Script Corpora

Examples of hypertets in signs are:

1. Rim-of-jar hieroglyph superscripted on water-carrier hieroglyph
kanka, karṇika 'rim-of-jar' rebus: kanka (Santali) karṇika 'scribe'(Sanskrit) ; kārṇī m. ʻsuper cargo of a ship, a representative of the ship's owner on board a merchant ship, responsible for overseeing the cargo and its sale.' (Marathi)  PLUS kuṭi 'water-carrier' (Telugu) rebus: kuṭhi 'smelting furnace'. Thus, supercargo for smelted products. 

Supercargo wealth accounting ledger of ingots
The most frequently occurring three-sign sequence in Indus Script Corpora includes the hieroglyph: 'rim-of-jar' and 'backbone'. I suggest that a hypertext composed of these two hieroglyphs as components signifies supercargo wealth accounting ledger entry of alloy metals. Accompanied by 'ingot' hieroglyph, the signifiers of the hypertext of 3 signs are: alloy metal ingots taken out of furnace and accounted in wealth ledger by कर्णिका, scribe/supercargo/engraver. He or she is कारणिक [p= 274,3] mfn. (g. काश्य्-ादि) " investigating , ascertaining the cause " , a judge Pan5cat.; a teacher. कर्णी [p= 257,3] . of °ण ifc. (e.g. अयस्-क्° and पयस्-क्°) Pa1n2. 8-3 , 46; कर्ण[p= 256,2] the helm or rudder of a ship R.; कर्णिक [p= 257,2] m. a steersman W.
Image result for copper plates raised script bharatkalyan97Three readings for the 'backbone hieroglyph: karaṇḍa, bharaḍo, kaseru. Rebus words relate to metalwork: bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin); kharaḍā खरड़ा i'currycomb' rebus: kharaḍā खरड़ा 'rough ledger entry accounting for wealth';  kaseru [Skt.] n. The backbone. rebus: kasērā ʻ metal worker ʼ, (Lahnda) P. kaserā m. ʻ worker in pewter ʼ (CDIAL 2988, 2989).

 *kaṇṭa3 ʻ backbone, podex, penis ʼ. 2. *kaṇḍa -- . 3. *karaṇḍa -- 4. (Cf. *kāṭa -- 2, *ḍākka -- 2: poss. same as káṇṭa -- 1] 1. Pa. piṭṭhi -- kaṇṭaka -- m. ʻ bone of the spine ʼ; Gy. eur. kanro m. ʻ penis ʼ (or < káṇṭaka -- ); Tir. mar -- kaṇḍḗ ʻ back (of the body) ʼ; S. kaṇḍo m. ʻ back ʼ, L. kaṇḍ f.,kaṇḍā m. ʻ backbone ʼ, awāṇ. kaṇḍ, °ḍī ʻ back ʼ; P. kaṇḍ f. ʻ back, pubes ʼ; WPah. bhal. kaṇṭ f. ʻ syphilis ʼ; N. kaṇḍo ʻ buttock, rump, anus ʼ, kaṇḍeulo ʻ small of the back ʼ; B. kã̄ṭ ʻ clitoris ʼ; Or. kaṇṭi ʻ handle of a plough ʼ; H. kã̄ṭā m. ʻ spine ʼ, G. kã̄ṭɔ m., M. kã̄ṭā m.; Si. äṭa -- kaṭuva ʻ bone ʼ, piṭa -- k° ʻ backbone ʼ.2. Pk. kaṁḍa -- m. ʻ backbone ʼ.3. Pk. karaṁḍa -- m.n. ʻ bone shaped like a bamboo ʼ, karaṁḍuya -- n. ʻ backbone ʼ.(CDIAL 2670)

bharaḍo 'spine' (Gujarati); spine, backbone (Punjabi); baraḍo thāḍavo lit. to strike on the backbone or back (Gujarati). 

bharaḍo ‘spine’ (Gujarati); spine, backbone (Punjabi); baraḍo thāḍavo lit. to strike on the backbone or back (Gujarati).  baraḍo -baraḍ BHANGI NAKHI- Brocken) - means KED/KAMAR Backbone specifically of LUMBAR REGION (Kutchi. Gujarati). Rebus: L. bhāraṇ ʻ to spread or bring out from a kiln ʼ; M. bhārṇẽ, bhāḷṇẽ ʻ to make strong by charms (weapons, rice, water), enchant, fascinate (CDIAL 9463)  Ash. barī ʻ blacksmith, artisan (CDIAL 9464). Baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) bharana id. (Bengali) bharan or toul was created by adding some brass or zinc into pure bronze. bharata = casting metals in moulds (Bengali)

Ku. balad m. ʻ ox ʼ, gng. bald, N. (Tarai) barad, id. Rebus: L. bhāraṇ ʻ to spread or bring out from a kiln ʼ; M. bhārṇẽ, bhāḷṇẽ ʻ to make strong by charms (weapons, rice, water), enchant, fascinate (CDIAL 9463)  Ash. barī ʻ blacksmith, artisan (CDIAL 9464). Baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) bharana id. (Bengali) bharan or toul was created by adding some brass or zinc into pure bronze. bharata = casting metals in moulds (Bengali)

 kaseru [Skt.] n. The backbone. rebus:  kasērā ʻ metal worker ʼ, (Lahnda) P. kaserā m. ʻ worker in pewter ʼ (CDIAL 2988, 2989)

Image result for raised script copper tablet
Image result for raised script copper tablet

Many variants of Sign 123 (Parpola corpus) are identified signifying, according to Parpola [quote] a three-branched 'fig-tree' and of its ligature with the 'crab' sign, where the middlemost branch has been omitted to accommodate the inserted 'crab' sign. (After Parpola, Asko, 1994, Deciphering the Indus Script, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 235).

Variants of 'crab' hieroglyph (After Parpola 1994: 232, cf. 71-72)

The hieroglyph-multiplex, thus orthographically signifies two ficus leaves ligatured to the top edge of a wide rimless pot and a crab hieroglyph is inscripted. In this hieroglyph-multiplex three hieroglyph components are signified: 1. rimless pot, 2. two ficus leaves, 3. crab. baTa 'rimless pot' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace'; loa 'ficus' Rebus: loha 'copper, iron'; kamaDha 'crab' Rebus: kammaTa 'coiner, mint'.

Examples are:
karNaka, kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'Supercargo' karNika 'scribe, account'

Hieroglyph: one-horned young bull: खोंड (p. 216) [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)

Hieroglyph: one-horned young bull: खोंड (p. 216) [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. 

Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)  खोदगिरी [ khōdagirī ] f Sculpture, carving, engraving. 


loa 'ficus religiosa' rebus: loh 'copper, iron,metal'.

Hieroglyph: one-horned young bull: खोंड (p. 216) [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)


Hieroglyph: one-horned young bull: खोंड (p. 216) [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. 

Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)  खोदगिरी [ khōdagirī ] f Sculpture, carving, engraving. 


Hypertext 'signs': sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop' eraka 'nave of wheel' rebus: eraka 'moltencast, copper' Ara 'spokes' rebus: arA 'brass'. karNaka, kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'Supercargo' karNika 'scribe, account' Three sets of four short strokes as hypertext hieroglyph-multiplex: gaNDa 'four' rebus: kaNDa 'implements' PLUS kolmo 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'. Thus, the pair of twelve short strokes signifies rebus: smithy/forge implements, Pictorial motifs: dhāu 'strand of rope' Rebus: dhāv 'red ore' (ferrite) PLUS vaTa 'strand' thus, together rebus: dhā̆vaḍ 'iron-smelter'.
Hypertext 'signs' mū̃h 'ingot' (Santali) PLUS khANDA 'notch' rebus: kaNDa 'implements'. thus, ingots and implements. karNaka, kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'Supercargo' karNika 'scribe, account'. Thus, a metalwork catalogue documentation of ingots and metal implements from the fortification guild (artisans).

Hieroglyph: sãgaḍ, 'lathe' (Meluhha) Rebus 1: sãgaṛh , 'fortification' (Meluhha). Rebus 2:sanghAta 'adamantine glue'. Rebus 3: 

 sangāṭh संगाठ् 'assembly, collection'. Rebus 4: sãgaḍa 'double-canoe, catamaran'.


Hieroglyph: one-horned young bull: खोंड (p. 216) [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)

Hieroglyph: one-horned young bull: खोंड (p. 216) [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. 

Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)  खोदगिरी [ khōdagirī ] f Sculpture, carving, engraving. 

 Hypertext 'signs': mū̃h 'ingot' (Santali) PLUS kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'. Thus, ingots smithy. karNaka, kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'Supercargo' karNika 'scribe, account'. Thus, a metalwork catalogue documentation of ingots from smithy/forge.
Hieroglyph: sãgaḍ, 'lathe' (Meluhha) Rebus 1: sãgaṛh , 'fortification' (Meluhha). Rebus 2:sanghAta 'adamantine glue'. Rebus 3: 

 sangāṭh संगाठ् 'assembly, collection'. Rebus 4: sãgaḍa 'double-canoe, catamaran'.


Hieroglyph: one-horned young bull: खोंड (p. 216) [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)

Hieroglyph: one-horned young bull: खोंड (p. 216) [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. 

Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)  खोदगिरी [ khōdagirī ] f Sculpture, carving, engraving. 

Bhirrrna seal. ASI karNika 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'supercargo'; karNaka 'account'; Alternative: kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: kanga 'brazier'. A variant of Signs is seen on the Bhirrana seal:karaṁḍa -- m.n. ʻ bone shaped like a bamboo ʼ, karaṁḍuya -- n. ʻ backbone ʼ (Prakrit) Rebus: करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. (Marathi)
mū̃h 'ingot' (Santali). poLa 'magnetite ferrite ore' ingot PLUS karNaka, kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'Supercargo' karNika 'scribe, account'
 karNaka, kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'Supercargo' karNika 'scribe, account' मेढ (p. 662) [ mēḍha ] 'polar' star' Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Ho.Munda) kuThAru 'monkey' rebus: kuThAru 'armourer'.
Image result for copper plates parpola bharatkalyan97

Copper plates from Mohenjo-daro: an analysis of 46 tablet groups (After Parpola, 1994, fig 7.14)
Image result for m478a mohenjodaro tabletMohenjo-daro. Copper plate. obverse. Excavation no. E 214-215. Courtesy. ASI. Purana Qila, New Delhi.

'Endless knot' hieroglyph of Indus Script Corpora

Dhruva II Inscription Gujarat Rashtrakuta 884 CE [H. Sarkar & BM Pande, 1999, Symbols and Graphic Representations in Indian Inscriptions, Delhi: Aryan,] 

Altekar notes in Footnote 11: “After the signature and before the word लिखितं is engraved an ornamental design”.
This ornamental design is the ‘endless knot’ hieroglyph of Indus Script. (See Altekar's monograph on Copper plate of Dhruva II. (Epigraphia Indica, 1933-34, Vol. XXII, pp. 64 to 76) The full text is embedded https://www.scribd.com/document/318189556/New-copper-plate-of-Dhruva-II-Gujarat-Rashtrakuta-AS-Altekar-in-Epigraphic-Indica-and-Record-of-ASI-Vol-XXII-1933-34-ed-NP-Chakrabarti#from_embed) 

Mohenjo-daro tablet m479B. Modified hieroglyph becomes a hypertex rim-of-jar + lid of pot. m479B kanka, karNaka 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'supercargo' adaren 'lid' rebus: aduru 'native metal' Thus, native metal handed to supercargo for shipment.
m478a tablet The hieroglyph may be a variant of a twisted rope.
dhāu 'rope' rebus: dhāu 'metal' PLUS  मेढा [ mēḍhā ] 'a curl or snarl; twist in thread' rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’. Thus, metallic ore.

The hieroglyphs on m478a tablet are read rebus:

kuṭi 'tree'Rebus: kuṭhi 'smelter'

bhaTa 'worshipper' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace' baTa 'iron' (Gujarati) This hieroglyph is a phonetic deterinant of the 'rimless pot': baṭa = rimless pot (Kannada) Rebus: baṭa = a kind of iron (Gujarati) bhaṭa 'a furnace'.  Hence, the hieroglyph-multiplex of an adorant with rimless pot signifies: 'iron furnace' bhaTa. 

bAraNe ' an offering of food to a demon' (Tulu) Rebus: baran, bharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi. Bengali) The narrative of a worshipper offering to a tree is thus interpretable as a smelting of three minerals: copper, zinc and tin.

Numeral four: gaNDa 'four' Rebus: kand 'fire-altar'; Four 'ones': koḍa ‘one’ (Santali) Rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop'. Thus, the pair of 'four linear strokes PLUS rimless pot' signifies: 'fire-altar (in) artisan's wrkshop'. 

Circumscript of two linear strokes for 'body' hieroglyph: dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' koḍa ‘one’(Santali) Rebus: koḍ ‘artisan’s workshop'. Thus, the circumscript signifies 'cast metal workshop'. meD 'body' Rebus: meD 'iron'.
 Santali glosses Rebus: मृदु mṛdu, mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'metal' (Samskrtam. Santali.Mu.Ho).Rebus: medha 'yajña, nidhi'.

khareḍo = a currycomb (G.) Rebus: kharādī ‘turner’ (Gujarati)
baṭa = rimless pot (Kannada) Rebus: baṭa = a kind of iron (Gujarati) bhaṭa 'a furnace'

m478B

m0478B tablet erga = act of clearing jungle (Kui) [Note image showing two men carrying uprooted trees].

Aḍaru twig; aḍiri small and thin branch of a tree; aḍari small branches (Ka.); aḍaru twig (Tu.)(DEDR 67). Aḍar = splinter (Santali); rebus: aduru = native metal (Ka.) Vikalpa: kūtī = bunch of twigs (Skt.) Rebus: kuṭhi = furnace (Santali) ḍhaṁkhara — m.n. ʻbranch without leaves or fruitʼ (Prakrit) (CDIAL 5524)
•era, er-a = eraka = ?nave; erako_lu = the iron axle of a carriage (Ka.M.); cf. irasu (Ka.lex.)
•era_ = claws of an animal that can do no harm (G.)
•era female, applied to women only, and generally as a mark of respect, wife; hopon era a daughter; era hopon a man’s family; manjhi era the village chief’s wife; gosae era a female Santal deity; bud.hi era an old woman; era uru wife and children; nabi era a prophetess; diku era a Hindu woman (Santali)
•Rebus: er-r-a = red; eraka = copper (Ka.) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Ka.lex.) erako molten cast (Tu.lex.)  agasa_le, agasa_li, agasa_lava_d.u = a goldsmith (Te.lex.)
 Hieroglyph: Looking back: krammara 'look back' (Telugu) kamar 'smith, artisan' (Santali)

erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Ka.lex.) cf. eruvai = copper (Ta.lex.) eraka, er-aka = any metal infusion (Ka.Tu.); 

^  Inverted V, m478 (lid above rim of narrow-necked jar)
The rimmed jar next to the tiger with turned head has a lid. Lid ‘ad.aren’; rebus: aduru ‘native metal’

karnika 'rim of jar' Rebus: karni 'supercargo' (Marathi) Thus, together, the jar with lid composite hieroglyhph denotes 'native metal supercargo'.

kuTi 'tree' Rebus: kuṭhi = (smelter) furnace (Santali) 
eraka, hero = a messenger; a spy (G.lex.) kola ‘tiger, jackal’ (Kon.); rebus: kol working in iron, blacksmith, ‘alloy of five metals, panchaloha’ (Tamil) kol ‘furnace, forge’ (Kuwi) kolami ‘smithy’ (Te.) heraka = spy (Skt.); er to look at or for (Pkt.); er uk- to play 'peeping tom' (Ko.) Rebus: eraka ‘copper’ (Ka.) kōṭu  branch of tree, Rebus: खोट [ khōṭa ] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge. 

karn.aka = handle of a vessel; ka_n.a_, kanna_ = rim, edge; 
kan.t.u = rim of a vessel; kan.t.ud.iyo = a small earthen vessel
kan.d.a kanka = rim of a water-pot; kan:kha, kankha = rim of a vessel
Related imageMohenjo-daro copper plate. m1356.
m1457B Copper plate with 'twist' hieroglyph dhāu 'rope' rebus: dhāu 'metal' PLUS  मेढा [ mēḍhā ] 'a curl or snarl; twist in thread' rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’. daürā 'rope' Rebus dhāvḍā 'smelter'








m 478-480
M443A, B
Image result for m478a mohenjodaro tabletm1356 copper plate. The signified material are: sattva 'zinc, spelter, pewter' PLUS meḍ 'iron' med 'copper' (metal in general). 

The endless knot is deciphered as: meḍ 'iron' med 'copper' (Slavic languages).
The svastika is deciphered as: sattva, jasta 'zinc, sphalerite'.med 'iron' med 'copper' (Slavic) and hence, its occurrence together with svastika hieroglyph which signifies: jasta, sattva, 'zinc' in the context of trade by seafaring merchants of Meluhha.  Hieroglyph: sattu (Tamil), satta, sattva (Kannada)rebus:  jasth जसथ् ।रपु m. (sg. dat. jastas ज्तस), zinc, spelter; pewter; zasath

Endless knot: Yajna, Iron Mineral smelter cluster

Rojdi. Ax-head or knife of copper, 17.4 cm. long (After Possehl and Raval 1989: 162, fig. 77. The endless knot hieroglyph on the copper knife indicates that the alloying element is: red ore of copper: med 'copper', dhāu 'metal'.
C-49 a,b,c
+ hieroglyph in the middle with covering lines around/dots in corners poLa 'zebu' rebus: poLa 'magnetite'; dhAv 'strand' rebus: dhAv 'smelter'; kulA 'hooded snake' rebus: kolle 'blacksmith' kol 'working in iron' kolhe 'smelter'; kolmo 'three' koD 'horn' rebus: kolimi 'smithy' koD 'workshop'. tri-dhAtu 'three strands, threefold' rebus: tri-dhAv 'three mineral ores'.mḗdha m. ʻ sacrificial oblation ʼ RV. Pa. mēdha -- m. ʻ sacrifice ʼ; Si. mehe, mē sb. ʻ eating ʼ ES 69.(CDIAL 10327). Thus, mḗdha is a yajna.  गृहम् gṛham मेध a. 1 one who performs the domestic rites or sacrifices; गृह- मेधास आ गत मरुतो माप भूतन Rv.7.59.1.-2 connected with the duties of a householder. (-धः) 1 a householder. -2 a domestic sacrifice; मेधः 1 A sacrifice, as in नरमेध, अश्वमेध, एकविंशति- मेधान्ते Mb.14.29.18. (com. मेधो युद्धयज्ञः । 'यज्ञो वै मेधः' इति श्रुतेः ।). -2 A sacrificial animal or victim. -3 An offering, oblation. मेधा [मेध्-अञ्] (changed to मेधस् in Bah. comp. when preceded by सु, दुस् and the negative particle अ A sacrifice. -5 Strength, power (Ved.). मेध्य a. [मेध्-ण्यत्, मेधाय हितं यत् वा] 1 Fit for a sacrifice; अजाश्वयोर्मुखं मेध्यम् Y.1.194; Ms.5.54. -2 Relating to a sacrifice, sacrificial; मेध्येनाश्वेनेजे; R.13. 3; उषा वा अश्वस्य मेध्यस्य शिरः Bṛi. Up.1.1.1. -3 Pure, sacred, holy; भुवं कोष्णेन कुण्डोघ्नी मध्येनावमृथादपि R.1.84; 3.31;14.81 Mejjha (adj. -- nt.) [*medhya; fr. medha] 1. (adj.) [to medha1] fit for sacrifice, pure; neg. a˚ impure Sdhp 363. medha [Vedic medha, in aśva, go˚, puruṣa˚ etc.] sacrifice only in assa˚ horse -- sacrifice (Pali)

मेढा [ mēḍhā ]'twist, curl' rebus: meḍ 'iron, copper,metal‘ medha ‘yajña'
Fatehpur Sikri (1569-1584 CE cf. RS Bisht)

A3a and A3b

Hieroglyph: Endless knot
dhAtu 'strand of rope' Rebus: dhAtu 'mineral, metal, ore'धातु [p= 513,3] m. layer , stratum Ka1tyS3r. Kaus3. constituent part , ingredient (esp. [ and in RV. only] ifc. , where often = " fold " e.g. त्रि-ध्/आतु , threefold &c ; cf.त्रिविष्टि- , सप्त- , सु-) RV. TS. S3Br. &c (Monier-Williams) dhāˊtu  *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.).; S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f.(CDIAL 6773) tántu m. ʻ thread, warp ʼ RV. [√tan] Pa. tantu -- m. ʻ thread, cord ʼ, Pk. taṁtu -- m.; Kho. (Lor.) ton ʻ warp ʼ < *tand (whence tandeni ʻ thread between wings of spinning wheel ʼ); S. tandu f. ʻ gold or silver thread ʼ; L. tand (pl. °dũ) f. ʻ yarn, thread being spun, string of the tongue ʼ; P. tand m. ʻ thread ʼ, tanduā, °dūā m. ʻ string of the tongue, frenum of glans penis ʼ; A. tã̄t ʻ warp in the loom, cloth being woven ʼ; B. tã̄t ʻ cord ʼ; M. tã̄tū m. ʻ thread ʼ; Si. tatu, °ta ʻ string of a lute ʼ; -- with -- o, -- ā to retain orig. gender: S. tando m. ʻ cord, twine, strand of rope ʼ; N. tã̄do ʻ bowstring ʼ; H. tã̄tā m. ʻ series, line ʼ; G. tã̄tɔ m. ʻ thread ʼ; -- OG. tāṁtaṇaü m. ʻ thread ʼ < *tāṁtaḍaü, G.tã̄tṇɔ m.(CDIAL 5661)

 मेढा [ mēḍhā ] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl.(Marathi)(CDIAL 10312).L. meṛh f. ʻrope tying oxen to each other and to post on threshing floorʼ(CDIAL 10317) Rebus: meḍ'iron'. mẽṛhet ‘iron’ (Mu.Ho.) 

Thus, together, a strand and a curl, the hieroglyph-multiplex of endless-knot signifies iron mineral. mRdu dhAtu (iron mineral).
Daimabad seal. Rim-of-jar.

2. Fish hieroglyph linked to hieroglyph components such as 'fins' of fish, 'lid' hieroglyph, 'slant' hieroglyph, 'notch or dot' hieroglyph, 

A Munda gloss for fish is 'aya'. Read rebus: aya 'iron' (Gujarati) ayas 'metal' (Vedic). 

The script inscriptions indicate a set of modifiers or ligatures to the hieroglyph indicating that the metal, aya, was worked on during the early Bronze Age metallurgical processes -- to produce aya ingots, aya metalware,aya hard alloys.
Sign 60 is fish + circumscript (gaṇḍa, 'four' --four short-numeral strokes; rebus: kaṇḍa 'implements') Thus, the combined reading is: ayas, 'alloy metal' +  kaṇḍa 'implements'.  

Lexical expression is: ayaskāṇḍa 1 an iron-arrow. -2 excellent iron. -3 a large quantity of iron. 
Note: 
Sign 66 is circumscript (four short-numeral strokes) of fish + lid
Sign 68 is circumscript (four short-numeral strokes) of fish + fins

Fish hieroglyph in its vivid orthographic form is shown painted on a Susa pot which contained metalware -- weapons and vessels. 

One side of the Susa pot is painted with the hypertext of a bird + tied on the neck with a rope. 
pōlaḍu 'black drongo' rebus: polad 'steel' PLUS daürā 'rope' Rebus dhāvḍā 'smelter'. Thus, smelted steel.
The other side of the pot is painted with the hypertext of a fish + fins.
 ayo 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron', ayas 'alloy metal' PLUS khambhaṛā 'fin' rebus: kammaṭa 'coiner, coinage, mint' Thus, alloy metal mint.

Context for use of ‘fish’ glyph. This photograph of a fish and the ‘fish’ glyph on Susa pot are comparable to the ‘fish’ glyph on Indus inscriptions.

Modifiers to the 'fish' hieroglyph which normally occur are: 
inlaid slanted stroke, 
inlaid notch, fins; superscript of lid-of-pot:

For determining the semantics of the messages conveyed by the script. Positional analysis of ‘fish’ glyphs has also been presented in: Michael Korvink, 2007, The Indus Script: A Positional-statistical Approach, Gilund Press.

'fish' + 'bird' within circumscript of 'parentheses'
The 'parenthesis' modifier is a circumfix for both 'fish' and 'duck' hieroglyphs, the semantics of () two parenthetical modifiers are: kuṭilá— ‘bent, crooked’ KātyŚr., °aka— Pañcat., n. ‘a partic. plant’  [√kuṭ 1] Pa. kuṭila— ‘bent’, n. ‘bend’; Pk. kuḍila— ‘crooked’, °illa— ‘humpbacked’, °illaya— ‘bent’DEDR 2054 (a) Ta. koṭu curved, bent, crooked; koṭumai crookedness, obliquity; koṭukki hooked bar for fastening doors, clasp of an ornament. A pair of curved lines: dol ‘likeness, picture, form’ [e.g., two tigers, two bulls, sign-pair.] Kashmiri. dula दुल । युग्मम् m. a pair, a couple, esp. of two similar things (Rām. 966). Rebus: dul meṛeḍ  cast iron (Mundari. Santali) dul ‘to cast metal in a mould’ (Santali) pasra meṛed, pasāra meṛed = syn. of koṭe meṛed = forged iron, in contrast to dul meṛed, cast iron (Mundari.) Thus, dul kuṭila ‘cast bronze’.

The parenthetically ligatured fish+duck hieroglyphs thus read rebus: dul kuṭila ayas karaḍā 'cast bronze ayasor cast alloy metal with ayas as component to create karaḍā ''hard alloy with ayas'.
Ligatures to fish: parentheses + snout dul kuṭila ayas 'cast bronze ayas alloy with tuttha, copper sulphate' 

Modifier hieroglyph: 'snout' Hieroglyph: WPah.kṭg. ṭōṭ ʻ mouth ʼ.WPah.kṭg. thótti f., thótthəṛ m. ʻ snout, mouth ʼ, A. ṭhõt(phonet. thõt) (CDIAL 5853). Semantics, Rebus: 
tutthá n. (m. lex.), tutthaka -- n. ʻ blue vitriol (used as an eye ointment) ʼ Suśr., tūtaka -- lex. 2. *thōttha -- 4. 3. *tūtta -- . 4. *tōtta -- 2. [Prob. ← Drav. T. Burrow BSOAS xii 381; cf. dhūrta -- 2 n. ʻ iron filings ʼ lex.]1. N. tutho ʻ blue vitriol or sulphate of copper ʼ, B. tuth.2. K. thŏth, dat. °thas m., P. thothā m.3. S.tūtio m., A. tutiyā, B. tũte, Or. tutiā, H. tūtā, tūtiyā m., M. tutiyā m. 4. M. totā m.(CDIAL 5855) Ka. tukku rust of iron; tutta, tuttu, tutte blue vitriol. Tu. tukků rust; mair(ů)suttu, (Eng.-Tu. Dict.) mairůtuttu blue vitriol. Te. t(r)uppu rust; (SAN) trukku id., verdigris. / Cf. Skt. tuttha- blue vitriol (DEDR 3343).

ayam , n. < ayas. 1. Iron; இரும்பு. (பிங்.) 2. Iron filings; அரப்பொடி. (தைலவ. தைல. 6.); அயசு ayacu
, n. < ayas. Iron; இரும்பு. (சி. சி.. 4, 8, சிவாக்.). In Pali, ayo, aya has the meanings of 'iron, ore'.  ayo (iron), loha (copper), tipu (tin), sīsa (lead), sajjha (silver) are mentioned as alloys of जात--रूप, n. gold S3Br. xiv 
(oxyt.) Naigh. i , 2 (proparox.) Kaus3. La1t2y. &c: 

Ayo & Aya (nt.) [Sk. ayaḥ nt. iron & ore, Idg. *ajes -- , cp. Av. ayah, Lat. aes, Goth. aiz, Ohg. ēr (= Ger. Erz.), Ags. ār (= E. ore).] iron. The nom. ayo found only in set of 5 metals forming an alloy of gold (jātarūpa), viz. ayo, loha (copper), tipu (tin), sīsa (lead), sajjha 
(silver) A iii.16 = S v.92; of obl. cases only the instr. ayasā occurs Dh 240 (= ayato DhA iii.344); Pv i.1013 (paṭikujjita, of Niraya). -- Iron is the material used kat)e) coxh/nin the outfit & construction of Purgatory or Niraya (see niraya & Avīci & cp. Vism 56 sq.). -- In compn. both ayo˚ & aya˚ occur as bases.  I. ayo˚: -- kapāla an iron pot A iv.70 (v. l. ˚guhala); Nd2 304 iii. d 2 (of Niraya). -- kūṭa an iron hammer PvA 284. -- khīla an iron stake S v.444; M iii.183 = Nd2 304 iii. c; SnA 479. -- guḷa an iron ball S v.283; Dh 308; It 43 = 90; Th 2, 489; DA i.84. -- ghana an iron club Ud 93; VvA 20. -- ghara an iron house J iv.492. -- paṭala an iron roof or ceiling (of Niraya) PvA 52. -- pākāra an iron fence Pv i.1013 = Nd2 304 iii. d 1. -- maya made of iron Sn 669 (kūṭa); J iv.492 (nāvā); Pv i.1014 (bhūmi of N.); PvA 43, 52. -- muggara an iron club PvA 55. -- sanku an iron spike S iv.168; Sn 667.   II. aya˚: -- kapāla = ayo˚ DhA i.148 (v. l. ayo˚). -kāra a worker in iron Miln 331. -- kūṭa = ayo˚ J i.108; DhA ii.69 (v. l.). -- nangala an iron plough DhA i.223; iii.67. -- paṭṭaka an iron plate or sheet (cp. loha˚) J v.359.-- paṭhavi an iron floor (of Avīci) DhA i.148. -- sanghāṭaka an iron (door) post DhA iv.104. -- sūla an iron stake Sn 667; DhA i.148.

The meaning of 'ayas' in Rigveda has been uncertain and conjectures have been made from the texts as exemplified by the succinct presentation by Arthur Anthony Macdonell, and Arthur Berriedale Keith: 




Source: Vedic Index of Names and Subjects, Volume 1 Arthur Anthony Macdonell, Arthur Berriedale Keith Motilal Banarsidass Publisher, 1995

A more precise understanding of the gloss 'ayas' comes from the frequent use of a hieroglyph on Indus Script inscriptions.

A Munda gloss for fish is 'aya'. Read rebus: aya 'iron' (Gujarati) ayas 'alloy metal' (R̥gveda). 

The script inscriptions indicate a set of modifiers or ligatures to the hieroglyph indicating that the metal, aya, was worked on during the early Bronze Age metallurgical processes -- to produce aya ingots, aya metalware, aya hard alloys.

Munda etyma related to ayo, ayu:

beḍa hako (ayo) ‘fish’ (Santali); beḍa ‘either of the sides of a hearth’ (G.) Munda: So. ayo `fish'. Go. ayu `fish'. Go (Z), (Z),, (A) {N} ``^fish''. Kh. kaDOG `fish'. Sa. Hako `fish'. Mu. hai (H) ~ haku(N) ~ haikO(M) `fish'. Ho haku `fish'. Bj. hai `fish'. Bh.haku `fish'. KW haiku ~ hakO |Analyzed hai-kO, ha-kO (RDM). Ku. Kaku`fish'.@(V064,M106) Mu. ha-i, haku `fish' (HJP). @(V341) ayu>(Z), (Z)  (A) {N} ``^fish''. #1370. \\(L) {N} ``^fish''. #3612. ,,(LMD) {N} ``prawn''. !Serango dialect. #32612. ,,(D) {N} ``prawn''. #32622. (ZL) {N} ``a kind of ^fish''. *Or.<>. #32632. (LL) {N} ``a kind of ^fish''. #32642.(DL) {N} ``smoked fish''. #15163

Section B: Hypertexts of pictorial motifs of Indus Script Corpora

Examples of hypertexts in pictorial motifs are seen on a deciphered Mohenjo-daro seal. 

1. One-horned young bull: the hieroglyph components are: 1. young bull, 2. one horn, 3. pannier, 4. rings on neck 

2. Standard device in front of the young bull: the hieroglyph components are: 1. Lathe (gimlet) on top; 2. Portable brazier on bottom; 3. Dotted circles.  

What is shown is a bull-calf together with other hieroglyph components: one horn, pannier, rings on neck.  Both the young bull PLUS the combined device (lathe+portable furnace) in front of the animal signify fine gold mint trade.

 The reading is: kunda 'bull calf' rebus: kundana 'fine gold' kunda 'lathe' rebus: kundana 'fine gold'. 
Joining two hieroglyphs is sangaḍa 'joined parts' rebus: sangara 'trade'.
Additional readings relate to the use of portable furnace: kamaṭa = portablefurnace for melting precious metals (Telugu) rebus: kammaṭa 'mint,coiner, coinage'. Thus, together kundana kammaṭa sangara 'fine gold mint trade'.
kodiyum 'rings on neck' kod `horn' (Kuwi); rebus: kod `artisan's workshop' (Gujarati). 
खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf.(Marathi) 
खोंड (p. 122) khōṇḍa A variety of जोंधळा. (Marathi) The word for the 'pannier' is: खोंडा [khōṇḍā] m A कांबळा of which one end is formed into a cowl or hood (Marathi). Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’(B.) कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi). कोंदण (p. 102) kōndaṇa n (कोंदणें) Setting or infixing of gems. 2 Beaten or drawn gold used in the operation. कोंदणें (p. 102) kōndaṇēṃ v i To be stuffed, obstructed, blocked up: also to be filled more comprehensively or freely; as a house or room with smoke; the heavens with thunder or a loud sound, or darkness; a person with rapture or joy &c. Ex. नादें अंबर कोंदलें ॥. Also ब्रम्हानंदें कोंदले ॥. Also to fill or pervade; as तों चंद्र गेला मावळोनि ॥ काज्हरा गगनीं कोंदला ॥. (Marathi) కుందనము (p. 289) kundanamu kundanamu. [Tel.] n. Solid gold, fine gold. అపరంజి. Ta. kuntaṉam interspace for setting gems in a jewel; fine gold (< Te.). Ka. kundaṇa setting a precious stone in fine gold; fine gold; kundana fine gold. Tu. kundaṇa pure gold. Te. kundanamu fine gold used in very thin foils in setting precious stones; setting precious stones with fine gold (DEDR 1725)






குந்தனம kuntaṉam , n. < T. kundanamu. 1. Interspace for enchasing or setting gems in a jewel; இரத்தினம் பதிக்கும் இடம். குந்தனத்தி லழுத்தின . . . ரத்தினங்கள் (திவ். திருநெடுந். 21, வ்யா. பக். 175). 2. Gold, fine gold; தங்கம். (சங். அக.) 

kunda कुन्द [p= 291,2] a turner's lathe L.; one of Kubera's nine treasures.  kunda1 m. ʻ a turner's lathe ʼ lex. [Cf. *cunda -- 1] N. kũdnu ʻ to shape smoothly, smoothe, carve, hew ʼ, kũduwā ʻ smoothly shaped ʼ; A. kund ʻ lathe ʼ, kundiba ʻ to turn and smooth in a lathe ʼ, kundowā ʻ smoothed and rounded ʼ; B. kũd ʻ lathe ʼ, kũdā, kõdā ʻ to turn in a lathe ʼ; Or. kū˘nda ʻ lathe ʼ, kũdibā, kū̃d° ʻ to turn ʼ (→ Drav. Kur. kū̃d ʻ lathe ʼ); Bi. kund ʻ brassfounder's lathe ʼ; H. kunnā ʻ to shape on a lathe ʼ, kuniyā m. ʻ turner ʼ, kunwā m.(CDIAL 3295)  kundakara m. ʻ turner ʼ W. [Cf. *cundakāra -- : kunda -- 1, kará -- 1] A. kundār, B. kũdār, °ri, Or. kundāru; H. kũderā m. ʻ one who works a lathe, one who scrapes ʼ, °rī f., kũdernā ʻ to scrape, plane, round on a lathe ʼ.(CDIAL 3297) কুন্দ (p. 240) kunda a (turner's) lathe. ̃কার n. a turner. (Bengali)

What is the device in front of the young bull hieroglyph-multiplex? It is also a symbolic hypertext with joined parts: 1. Lathe (gimlet) on top; 2. Portable brazier on bottom; 3. Dotted circles.
The joining of parts is: sãghāṛɔ 'lathe'. ‘brazier’ (Gujarati) सांगड [sāṅgaḍa] m f (संघट्ट S) f A body formed of two or more (fruits, animals, men) linked or joined together (Marathi). Rebus: sangara ‘proclamation, trade’. What is proclaimed in the catalogue? Signifying a gimlet creating perforations on beads? kandi ‘beads’ Rebus: kanda ‘fire-altar’. The dotted circles on the bottom part of the combined sãghāṛɔ 'lathe'. ‘brazier’ signify dhāu 'strand' (cross-section view) rebus: dhātu 'mineral ore'; dhāvaḍ 'iron smelter'.

 dhāī˜ (Lahnda) signifies a single strand of rope or thread.

I have suggested that a dotted circle hieroglyph is a cross-section of a strand of rope: S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f. Rebus: dhāˊtu n. ʻsubstance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour)ʼ; dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ(Marathi) धवड (p. 436) [ dhavaḍa ] m (Or धावड) A class or an individual of it. They are smelters of iron (Marathi).  Hence, the depiction of a single dotted circle, two dotted circles and three dotted circles (called trefoil) on the robe of the Purifier priest of Mohenjo-daro.

The phoneme dhāī˜ (Lahnda) signifying a single strand may thus signify the hieroglyph: dotted circle. This possibility is reinforced by the glosses in Rigveda, Tamil and other languages of Baratiya sprachbund which are explained by the word dāya 'playing of dice' which is explained by the cognate Tamil word: தாயம் tāyam, n. < dāya Number one in the game of dice; கவறுருட்ட விழும் ஒன்று என்னும் எண்.

 

The semantics: dāya 'Number one in the game of dice' is thus signified by the dotted circle on the uttariyam of the pōtṟ पोतृ,'purifier' priest. Rebus rendering in Indus Script cipher is dhāˊtu n. ʻsubstance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour)ʼ; dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ(Marathi) dhatu 'ore' (Santali)




Terracotta dice. "Gaming with dice has always been popular in India. This Indus cubical die is unusual in that its opposite sides add up to seven as in modern dice."Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Dice from before 2000 BC, made from stone and used in games by Indus people.
And you thought the dice originated in Europe?"And you thought the dice originated in Europe?"


I havesuggested that N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ) is related to the hieroglyph: strand of rope: S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f.(CDIAL 6773) తాడు [ tāḍu ] or త్రాడు tādu. [Tel.] n. A cord, thread, string. दामन् n. [दो-मनिन्] 1 A string, thread, fillet, rope. 
The fillet worn on the forehead and on the right-shoulder signifies one strand; while the trefoil on the shawl signifies three strands. A hieroglyph for two strands is also signified.
Semantics of single strand of rope and three strands of rope are: 1. Sindhi dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, Lahnda dhāī˜ id.; 2. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ (RigVeda). 
 Single strand (one dotted-circle)


Two strands (pair of dotted-circles)


Three strands (three dotted-circles as a trefoil)

These orthographic variants provide semantic elucidations for a single: dhātu, dhāū, dhāv 'red stone mineral' or two minerals: dul PLUS dhātu, dhāū, dhāv 'cast minerals' or tri- dhātu,      -dhāū, -dhāv 'three minerals' to create metal alloys'. The artisans producing alloys are dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻa caste of iron -- smeltersʼ, dhāvḍī ʻcomposed of or relating to ironʼ)(CDIAL 6773).. 
dāu m. ʻ opportunity, throw in dice ʼ (Old Awadhi); akṣa -- dāya -- m. ʻ playing of dice ʼ Naiṣ. (CDIAL 6258)தாயம் tāyam, n. < dāya Number one in the game of dice; கவறுருட்ட விழும்ஒன்று என்னும் எண். Colloq. dāˊtu n. ʻ share ʼ RV. [Cf. śatádātu -- , sahásradātu -- ʻ hundredfold, thousandfold ʼ: Pers. dāv ʻ stroke, move in a game ʼ prob. ← IA. -- √dō] K. dāv m. ʻ turn, opportunity, throw in dice ʼ; S. ḍ̠ã̄u m. ʻ mode ʼ; L. dā m. ʻ direction ʼ, (Ju.) ḍ̠ā, ḍ̠ã̄ m. ʻ way, manner ʼ; P. dāu m. ʻ ambush ʼ; Ku. dã̄w ʻ turn, opportunity, bet, throw in dice ʼ, N. dāu; B. dāu, dã̄u ʻ turn, opportunity ʼ; Or. dāu, dāũ ʻ opportunity, revenge ʼ; Mth. dāu ʻ trick (in wrestling, &c.) ʼ; OAw. dāu m. ʻ opportunity, throw in dice ʼ; H. dāū, dã̄w m. ʻ turn ʼ; G. dāv m. ʻ turn, throw ʼ, ḍāv m. ʻ throw ʼ; M. dāvā m. ʻ revenge ʼ. -- NIA. forms with nasalization (or all NIA. forms) poss. < dāmán -- 2m. ʻ gift ʼ RV., cf. dāya -- m. ʻ gift ʼ MBh., akṣa -- dāya -- m. ʻ playing of dice ʼ Naiṣ.(CDIAL 6258)
kunda 'lathe' PLUS కమటము (p. 246) kamaṭamu kamaṭamu. [Tel.] n. A portable furnace for melting the precious metals. అగసాలెవాని కుంపటి. "చ కమటము కట్లెసంచియొరగల్లును గత్తెర సుత్తె చీర్ణముల్ ధమనియుస్రావణంబు మొలత్రాసును బట్టెడ నీరుకారు సా నము పటుకారు మూస బలునాణె పరీక్షల మచ్చులాదిగా నమరగభద్రకారక సమాహ్వయు డొక్కరుడుండు నప్పురిన్" హంస. ii. PLUS Hieroglyph: 'dice' Rebus: 'ingot': pāśa1 m. ʻ die, dice ʼ MBh., °aka -- m. Mr̥cch. [Poss. with Lüders PhilInd 120 hyper -- sanskritism from MIA. pāsa(ka) -- < prāsaka -- m. ʻ die ʼ lex. (cf.prāsyati ʻ lays a wager ʼ TāṇḍBr. and prāsa -- ). It does not appear in any language differentiating pr -- from p -- or -- s -- from -- ś -- . Moreover the meaning ʻ lump of metal ʼ in N. H. M. may indicate a different origin]Pa. pāsaka -- m. ʻ die ʼ, Pk. pāsaga -- m., Ku. pã̄so, N. B. pāsā; Or. pasā, (Bastar) pāsā ʻ game of dice ʼ, OAw. sāri -- pāṁsā; H. pāsā m. ʻ die ʼ (→ P. pāsā m.), G. pāsɔm., M. phāsā m. (infl. by forms of pāśa -- 2 ~ *spāśa -- with p -- ~ ph -- ?), Si. pasa -- äṭa. -- N. pāso ʻ head of an iron instrument (such as axe or spade) ʼ rather than pasā ʻ iron ring through which plough iron is thrust ʼ; H. pāsā m. ʻ lump, cube, lump of metal ʼ; M. pās f. ʻ silver ingot, iron share of harrow ʼ (CDIAL 8132).
The fire-altar message is in front of the workshop (koḍ) of कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary (Marathi). This combination ofhieroglyph-multiplexes: ‘one-horned young bull with pannier, rings on neck’
PLUS ‘lathe, brazier, dotted circles’ is thus a proclamation, a catalogue of
work performed by a metalworker, engraver. 
Details of the work and produce are listed on the top register with four signs: baṭa ‘warrior’, rebus: bhaṭa ‘furnace’; ḍabu 'aniron spoon' Rebus: ḍab, 'lump; kolmo ‘paddy plant’ Rebus: kolimi ‘smithy, forge’; ranku ‘liquid measure’ Rebus: ranku ‘tin’.
The proclamation thus lists how the metallurgical work was done (to produce) tin mineral ingot from furnace and forge.
mukunda name of a particular treasure. (Perhaps muh PLUS kunda) múkha n. ʻ mouth, face ʼ RV., ʻ entrance ʼ MBh.
Pa. mukha -- m.; Aś.shah. man. gir. mukhato, kāl. dh. jau. °te ʻ by word of mouth ʼ; Pk. muha -- n. ʻ mouth, face ʼ, Gy. gr. hung. muy m., boh. muy, span. muí, wel. mūī f., arm. muc̦, pal. mu', mi', pers. mu; Tir. mū ʻ face ʼ; Woṭ. mū m. ʻ face, sight ʼ; Kho. mux ʻ face ʼ; Tor. mū ʻ mouth ʼ, Mai. mũ; K. in cmpds. mu -- ganḍ m. ʻ cheek, upper jaw ʼ, mū -- kāla ʻ having one's face blackened ʼ, rām. mūī˜, pog. mūī, ḍoḍ. mū̃h ʻ mouth ʼ; S. mũhũ m. ʻ face, mouth, opening ʼ; L. mũh m. ʻ face ʼ, awāṇ. mū̃ with descending tone, mult. mũhã m. ʻ head of a canal ʼ; P. mū̃h m. ʻ face, mouth ʼ, mū̃hã̄ m. ʻ head of a canal ʼ; WPah.śeu. mùtilde; ʻ mouth, ʼ cur. mū̃h; A. muh ʻ face ʼ, in cmpds. -- muwā ʻ facing ʼ; B. mu ʻ face ʼ; Or. muhã ʻ face, mouth, head, person ʼ; Bi. mũh ʻ opening or hole (in a stove for stoking, in a handmill for filling, in a grainstore for withdrawing) ʼ; Mth. Bhoj. mũh ʻ mouth, face ʼ, Aw.lakh. muh, H. muh, mũh m.; OG. muha, G. mɔ̃h n. ʻ mouth ʼ, Si. muya, muva. -- Ext. -- l<-> or -- ll -- : Pk. muhala -- , muhulla -- n. ʻ mouth, face ʼ; S. muhuro m. ʻ face ʼ (or < mukhará -- ); Ku. do -- maulo ʻ confluence of two streams ʼ; Si. muhul, muhuna, mūṇa ʻ face ʼ H. Smith JA 1950, 179.; -- -- ḍ -- : S. muhaṛo m. ʻ front, van ʼ; Bi. (Shahabad) mohṛā ʻ feeding channel of handmill (CDIAL 10158) rebus: mũh, muhã 'ingot' or muhã 'quantity of metal produced at one time in a native smelting furnace.'
m0297 seal, Text 2641
m0297a Head of a one-horned bull attached to an undentified five-point symbol 

baṭa = rimless pot rebus: bhaTa 'furnace' kolmo 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy'; thus the hieroglyph-multiplex reads: kolimi bhaTa 'smithy furnace'.
 kuṭi = a slice, a bit, a small piece (Santali.Bodding)  Rebus: kuṭhi 'smelter'. Together, Line 1 of the hypertext reads: 'smithy furnace, smelter'
Line 2: kole.l 'temple' rebus: kole.l 'smithy'. Alternative: 
beṛhī 'warehouse'; 
 
beṛā building with a courtyard (WPah.)
Fish + scales, aya ã̄s (amśu) ‘metallic stalks of stone ore’. Vikalpa: badhoṛ ‘a species of fish with many bones’ (Santali) Rebus: baḍhoe ‘a carpenter, worker in wood’; badhoria ‘expert in working in wood’(Santali) Alternative: gaNDa 'four' rebus: kand 'fire-altar' PLUS aya 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal' (Rigveda)
karNika 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'supercargo'; karNaka 'account'; Alternative: kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: kanga 'brazier'.

meD 'body' Rebus: med 'copper, iron'.
h1018copperobject  Head of one-horned bull ligatured with a four-pointed star-fish (Gangetic octopus?). 

kodiyum 'rings on neck' kod `horn' (Kuwi); rebus: kod `artisan's workshop' (Gujarati). खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf.(Marathi) Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’(B.) कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi). The joined animal is a Gangetic octopus.veṛhā octopus, said to be found in the Indus (Jaṭki lexicon of A. Jukes, 1900) Rebus: . vēḍa ʻboatʼ(Prakritam) Alternative: 
Rebus: beṛhī 'warehouse'; 
 
beṛā building with a courtyard (WPah.)
<->9308 bēḍā f. ʻ boat ʼ lex. 2. vēḍā, vēṭī -- f. lex. 3. bhēḍa -- 3 m., bhēla -- 1, °aka -- m.n. lex.1. Pk. bēḍa -- , °aya -- m., bēḍā -- , °ḍiyā -- f. ʻ boat ʼ, Gy. eur. bero, S. ḇeṛo m., °ṛī ʻ small do. ʼ; L. bēṛā (Ju. ḇ -- ) m. ʻ large cargo boat ʼ, bēṛī f. ʻ boat ʼ, P. beṛā m., °ṛī f.; Ku. beṛo ʻ boat, raft ʼ, N. beṛā, OAw. beḍā, H. beṛā m., G. beṛɔ m., beṛi f., M.beḍā m.2. Pk. vēḍa -- m. ʻ boat ʼ.3. Pk. bhēḍaka -- , bhēlaa -- m., bhēlī -- f. ʻ boat ʼ; B. bhelā ʻ raft ʼ, Or. bheḷā.
*bēḍḍa -- , *bēṇḍa -- ʻ defective ʼ see *biḍḍa -- .Addenda: bēḍā -- . 1. S.kcch. beṛī f. ʻ boat ʼ, beṛo m. ʻ ship ʼ; WPah.poet. beṛe f. ʻ boat ʼ, J. beṛī f.3. bhēḍa -- 3: A. bhel ʻ raft ʼ (phonet. bhel) ʻ raft ʼ AFD 89. 
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