K-means nine-fold clusters of select 1548 Indus Script

inscriptions, translation of 45 signs

◼ in the nine clusters & palm-squirrel hypertext as

wealth accounting ledgers, metalwork cargo
catalogues of seafaring Meluhha merchants' guild
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ae59/4ab5e260c95276dee351191eb531cd593cab.pdf
Nisha Yadav et al, 2017, Clustering Indus Texts using K-means, in: International Journal of
Computer Applications (0975 – 8887) Volume 162 – No 1, March 2017

"k-means clustering is a method of vector quantization, originally from signal processing, that is
popular for cluster analysis in data mining. k-means clustering aims to partition n observations
into k clusters in which each observation belongs to the cluster with the nearest mean, serving as
a prototype of the cluster. This results in a partitioning of the data space into Voronoi cells."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-means_clustering

K-means clustering into nine clusters by Nisha Yadav et al is the framework for identifying 45
'signs' which are Indus Script hypertexts. These hypertexts are translated as wealth-accounting
ledgers, metalwork cargo catalogues of seafaring Meluhha merchants.

EBUDS corpus is a filtered corpus after removing duplicates and dubious texts. EBUDS is a
corpus of 1548 texts of inscriptions is a subset of over 2000 inscriptions in ASI 1977 corpus
(Mahadevan).

Out of 377 distinct signs of EBUDS, the following are the signs which are text enders or text
beginners.

K-means clustering, an unsupervised machine learning technique is used to identify

clusters of similar

texts.The texts can be divided into nine clusters

C1 to C9 of SIMILAR TEXTS. This clustering suggests that there are clusters of texts which
primarily use different sets of signs from the general pool of 377 distinct signs.The following 45
signs are present the nine clusters C1 to C9. The most frequent text beginner is Sign 267.

In addition to the translation of 45 signs in the K-means nine clusters, a unique hypertext, a palm
squirrel hieroglyph is also translated as a guild-master and presented in Annex: Translation of
palm squirrel hieroglyph in the Indus Script Corpus

1
kaṁsá1 m. ʻ metal cup ʼ AV., m.n. ʻ bell -- metal ʼ Pat. as in S., but would in Pa. Pk. and most
NIA. lggs. collide with kāˊṁsya -- to which L. P. testify and under which the remaining forms
for the metal are listed. 2. *kaṁsikā -- .1. Pa. kaṁsa -- m. ʻ bronze dish ʼ; S. kañjho m. ʻ
bellmetal ʼ; A. kã̄h ʻ gong ʼ; Or. kãsā ʻ big pot of bell -- metal ʼ; OMarw. kāso (= kã̄ -- ?) m. ʻ
bell -- metal tray for food, food ʼ; G. kã̄sā m. pl. ʻ cymbals ʼ; -- perh. Woṭ. kasṓṭ m. ʻ metal pot ʼ
Buddruss Woṭ 109.2. Pk. kaṁsiā -- f. ʻ a kind of musical instrument ʼ; A. kã̄hi ʻ bell -- metal
dish ʼ; G. kã̄śī f. ʻ bell -- metal cymbal ʼ, kã̄śiyɔ m. ʻ open bellmetal pan ʼ. (CDIAL 2756).

Sign 267 is oval=shape variant, rhombus-shape of a bun ingot. Like Sign 373, this sign 267 also
signifies mũhã̄ 'bun ingot' PLUS kanac 'corner' rebus: kancu 'bell-metal'. Thus, together, the Sign
267 reads: kañjho mũhã̄ ‘bell-metal ingot'.

काण्ड mn. ([or काण्ड् /अ TS. vii]) (ifc. f(आ or ई).) ([cf. खण्ड , with which in some of its
senses काण्ड is confounded]) a single joint of the stalk or stem of a plant , such as a bamboo or
reed or cane (i.e. the portion from one knot to another cf. त्रि-क्°) AV. TS. VS.; an
arrow MBh. xiii , 265 Hit. काण्डa multitude , heap , quantity (ifc.) (Pāṇini 4-2 , 51 कात्रिका-
वृत्रि)अयस्--काण्ड m. n. " a quantity of iron " or " excellent iron " ,
(g. कस्का*त्रि q.v.) kaṇḍa ‘arrow’ rebus: kaṇḍa ‘fire-altar’ (Santali) khaṇḍa ‘equipment’(Santal)

karṇaka ‘scribe, accountant’ (Te.); gaṇaka id. (Skt.)

कत्रणिक m. (ifc. f(आ).) a prominence or handle or projection on the side or sides (of a vessel &c )
, a tendril S3Br. Ka1tyS3r.karṇī 'rim of jar' kárṇaka m. ʻ projection on the side of a vessel,
handle ʼ ŚBr. [kárṇa -- ]Pa. kaṇṇaka -- ʻ having ears or corners ʼ; Wg. kaṇə ʻ ear -- ring ʼ NTS
xvii 266; S. kano m. ʻ rim, border ʼ; P. kannā m. ʻ obtuse angle of a kite ʼ (→ H. kannā m. ʻ
edge, rim, handle ʼ); N. kānu ʻ end of a rope for supporting a burden ʼ; B. kāṇā ʻ brim of a cup ʼ,
G. kānɔ m.; M. kānā m. ʻ touch -- hole of a gun ʼ Rebus:कारणी or कारणीक [ kāraṇī or kāraṇīka
] 'supercargo of a ship responsible for the cargo karṇadhāra m. ʻ helmsman ʼ Suśr. [kárṇa -- ,
dhāra -- 1]Pa. kaṇṇadhāra -- m. ʻ helmsman ʼ; Pk. kaṇṇahāra -- m. ʻ helmsman, sailor ʼ;
H. kanahār m. ʻ helmsman, fisherman ʼ. (CDIAL 2836) कर्णक, कर्र्णक having a helm; m. a
steersman m. (ifc. f(आ).)

sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop'

2
 kolom 'sprout, rice plant'
Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'. kolom = cutting, graft; to graft, engraft, prune; kolmahoṛo = a
variety of the paddy plant (Desi)(Santali.) kolime, kolume, kulame, kulime, kulume,
kulme fire-pit, furnace (Ka.); kolimi furnace (Te.); pit (Te.); kolame a very deep pit (Tu.);
kulume kanda_ya a tax on blacksmiths (Ka.); kol, kolla a furnace (Ta.) kole.l smithy, temple in
Kota village (Ko.); kwala.l Kota smithy (To.); konimi blacksmith; kola id. (Ka.); kolleblacksmith
(Kod.); kollusa_na_ to mend implements; kolsta_na, kulsa_na_ to forge;ko_lsta_na_ to repair
(of plough-shares); kolmi smithy (Go.); kolhali to forge (Go.)(DEDR 2133).] kolimi-titti =
bellows used for a furnace (Te.lex.) kollu- to neutralize metallic properties by oxidation
(Ta.lex.) kol brass or iron bar nailed across a door or gate; kollu-t-tat.i-y-a_n.i large nail for
studding doors or gates to add to their strength (Ta.lex.) kollan--kamma_lai < + karmas'a_la_,
kollan--pat.t.arai, kollan-ulai-k-ku_t.am blacksmith's workshop, smithy (Ta.lex.) cf. ulai smith's
forge or furnace (Na_lat.i, 298); ulai-k-kal.am smith's forge; ulai-k-kur-at.u smith's tongs; ulai-t-
turutti smith's bellows; ulai-y-a_n.i-k-ko_l smith's poker, beak-iron (Ta.lex.) [kollulaive_r-
kan.alla_r: nait.ata. na_t.t.up.); mitiyulaikkollan- mur-iot.ir.r.an-n-a: perumpa_)(Ta.lex.)
Temple; smithy: kol-l-ulai blacksmith's forge (kollulaik ku_t.attin-a_l : Kumara. Pira. Ni_tiner-i.
14)(Ta.lex.) cf. kolhua_r sugarcane milkl and boiling house (Bi.); kolha_r oil factory
(P.)(CDIAL 3537). kulhu ‘a hindu caste, mostly oilmen’ (Santali) kolsa_r = sugarcane mill and
boiling house (Bi.)(CDIAL 3538). Alternative reinforcing semantics:

Ligatured glyph. arā 'spoke' rebus: āra 'brass'. era, er-a = eraka =

vnave; erakōlu = the iron axle of a carriage (Ka.M.); cf. irasu (Kannada)

[Note Sign 391 and its ligatures Signs 392 and 393 may connote a spoked-wheel,
nave of the wheel through which the axle passes; cf. ar ā, spoke]erka = ekke (Tbh.
of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal);crystal (Kannada) cf. eruvai = copper (Ta.lex.) eraka, er-
aka = anymetal infusion (Ka.Tu.); erako molten cast (Tulu) Rebus: eraka
= copper (Ka.)eruvai =copper (Ta.); ere - a dark-red colour (Ka.)(DEDR 817). eraka, era, er-a =
syn. erka, copper, weapons (Ka.)Vikalpa: ara, arā (RV.) = spoke of wheel ஆரம் ² āram , n.
< āra. 1. Spoke of a wheel. Eee ஆரக்கால் . ஆரஞ் சூழ் ந்தவயில் வாய் நநமியயாடு
(சிறுபாண். 253). Rebus: ஆரம் brass; பித்தளை.(அக. நி.)

khareḍo 'a currycomb' (Gujarati)खरारा kharārā m ( H) A currycomb. 2 Currying a horse

(Marathi) Kol. (Wagh.) garr quill of porcupine. Pa. (S.) karra id., tooth
of comb. Go. (Ko.) karra shaft of arrow (Voc. 556); (Tr.) karrē the long thin pole of a carrying
yoke (Voc. 561). gaṟī shaft of arrow. Cf. also the items with -kaṟ-/-kar- in
3986(b) Tu. parkaḍ(ḍ)i. / Cf. Pkt. (DNM) karālī- toothstick.(DEDR 1398) kharkhara खर् ््खर ।

3
अश्वात्रिकण्डूयनयन्त्रम् m. a curry-comb (K.Pr. 15). -- karun -- करुन् । अश्वात्रिकण्डूयनकरणम् m.inf.
to use a curry-comb, to curry (a horse), to groom (a horse).(Kashmiri)

Rebus: kharaḍa,
'daybook'.Rebus: खरडें 'daybook, wealth-accounting ledger' kharaḍa f (खरडणें ) A hurriedly
written or drawn piece; a scrawl; a mere tracing or rude sketch. खरडणें (p. 113) kharaḍaṇēṃ v c
To scrape or rub off roughly: also to abrade or graze. 2 To rub up; to grub up; to root out (grass,
weeds &c.) by pushing the instrument along. 3 To shave roughly, to scrape: also to write
roughly, to scrawl: also to jot or note down; to make brief memoranda: also to draw roughly; to
plough roughly; to grind roughly &c. &c. 4 To break by rubbing between stones; to bruise
(peppers &c.) 5 (More frequently खरड काढणें ) To abuse or revile vehemently and
coarsely. खरडत्रनिी
kharaḍaniśī f Scrawling, scribbling, bad writing. खरडनीस kharaḍanīsa c खरडत्रनिा a (खरड & P)
A scrawler or bad writer. खरडा kharaḍā खरडें n A rude sketch; a rough draught; a foul copy; a
waste-book; a day-book; a note-book.A spotted and rough and ill-shaped pearl: also the
roughness or knobbiness of such pearls.खरड्या kharaḍyā a (खरडणें ) That writes or shaves rudely
and roughly; a mere quill-driver; a very scraper.

करडा karaḍā a A color of horses, iron grey; and, attrib., a horse so colored.
करडा karaḍā a Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c.

dula ‘pair’; rebus dul ‘cast (metal), metal casting’

Ayo ‘fish’; kaṇḍa‘arrow’; rebus: ayaskāṇḍa. ayas 'alloy metal' The sign sequence
is ayaskāṇḍa ‘a quantity of iron,excellent iron’ (Pāṇ.gaṇ) ayo, hako 'fish'; a~s = scales of
fish (Santali); rebus: aya = iron (G.); ayah, ayas = metal (Skt.) kaṇḍa ‘fire-altar’ (Santali)
DEDR 191 Ta. ayirai, acarai, acalai loach, sandy colour, Cobitis thermalis; ayilai a kind of
fish. Ma. ayala a fish, mackerel, scomber; aila, ayila a fish; ayira a kind of small fish,
loach. ayir = iron dust, any ore (Ma.) aduru = gan.iyindategadu karagade iruva aduru = ore
taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Ka. Siddha_nti Subrahman.ya’
S’astri’s new interpretationof the Amarakos’a, Bangalore, Vicaradarpana Press, 1872, p. 330)
DEDR 192 Ta. ayil iron. Ma. ayir,ayiram any
ore. Ka. aduru nativemetal. Tu. ajirdakarba very hard iron अयस् n. iron , metal RV. &c ; an
iron weapon (as an axe , &c ) RV. vi , 3 ,5 and 47 , 10; gold Naigh.; steel L. ; ([cf. Lat. aes , aer-
is for as-is ; Goth. ais , Thema aisa ; Old Germ. e7r , iron
; Goth. eisarn ; Mod. Germ. Eisen.])(Monier-Williams) Thus, in R̥gveda, the falsifiable
hypothesis is that ayas signified 'alloy metal' in the early Tin-Bronze Revolution.

4
 khambhaṛā 'fish-fin' rebus: kammaṭa 'mint, coiner, coinage' PLUS ayo, aya 'fish'
rebus:aya 'iron' (Gujarati) ayas 'alloy metal' (Rgveda) rebus: kambāra 'artificer, smith'.

kūdī 'twig' Rebus: kuṭhi 'smelter' Vikalpa: pajhaṛ = to sprout from a root (Santali)
Rebus: pasra 'smithy'

kuṭi 'water-carrier' rebus: kuṭhi 'smelter' PLUS कर्णक, कर्र्णक m. (ifc. f(आ).) a
prominence or handle or projection on the side or sides (of a vessel &c ) , a
tendril S3Br. Ka1tyS3r.karṇī 'rim of jar' kárṇaka m. ʻ projection on the side of a vessel, handle ʼ
ŚBr. [kárṇa -- ]Pa. kaṇṇaka -- ʻ having ears or corners ʼ; Wg. kaṇə ʻ ear -- ring ʼ NTS xvii 266;
S. kano m. ʻ rim, border ʼ; P. kannā m. ʻ obtuse angle of a kite ʼ (→ H. kannā m. ʻ edge, rim,
handle ʼ); N. kānu ʻ end of a rope for supporting a burden ʼ; B. kāṇā ʻ brim of a cup ʼ,
G. kānɔ m.; M. kānā m. ʻ touch -- hole of a gun ʼ Rebus:कारणी or कारणीक [ kāraṇī or kāraṇīka
] 'supercargo of a ship responsible for the cargo karṇadhāra m. ʻ helmsman ʼ Suśr. [kárṇa -- ,
dhāra -- 1]Pa. kaṇṇadhāra -- m. ʻ helmsman ʼ; Pk. kaṇṇahāra -- m. ʻ helmsman, sailor ʼ;
H. kanahār m. ʻ helmsman, fisherman ʼ. (CDIAL 2836) कर्णक, कर्र्णक having a helm; m. a
steersman m. (ifc. f(आ).) karṇaka ‘scribe, accountant’ (Te.); gaṇaka id. (Skt.)

kuṭi = a slice, a bit, a small piece (Santali.Bodding) Rebus: kuṭhi ‘iron smelter furnace’
(Santali) kuṭhī factory (A.)(CDIAL 3546)

ranku 'liquid measure' rebus: ranku 'tin'

5
 kuṭi 'water-carrier' rebus: kuṭhi 'smelter'
Sign 12 variants

Sign 25 ciphertext is composed of Sign 1 and Sign 86. mē̃ḍ 'body' rebus: mē̃ḍ ‘iron’
(Mu.)Hypertext reads in a constructed Meluhha expression: mē̃ḍ koḍ 'iron workshop'.

kolmo 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'

ḍhaṁkaṇa 'lid' rebus dhakka 'excellent, bright, blazing metal article'.aya 'fish'
rebus: ayas 'iron,alloy metal'. Thus, bright, blazing alloy metal. PLUS khambhaṛā 'fish'fin'
rebus: Ta. kampaṭṭam coinage, coin. Ma. kammaṭṭam, kammiṭṭam coinage, mint.
Ka. kammaṭa id.; kammaṭi a coiner (DEDR 1236). Thus, blazing alloy metal mint.

baṭa 'rimless pot' rebus: baṭa 'iron' bhaṭa 'furnace'

Orthography of two notches PLUS three horizontal lines: Sign 254 Two notches PLUS
three horizontal lines: dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metal casting' PLUS खाां डा [ khāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch,
or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). (Marathi)
rebus: khaṇḍa 'equipment' PLUS kolom 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'. Thus dul khaṇḍa
kolimi 'cast equipment smithy, forge'

6
 Ta. meṭṭu mound, heap of earth; mēṭu height, eminence, hillock; muṭṭu rising ground, high
ground, heap. Ma. mēṭu rising ground, hillock; māṭu hillock, raised ground; miṭṭāl rising ground,
an alluvial bank; (Tiyya) maṭṭa hill. Ka. mēḍu height, rising ground, hillock; miṭṭu rising or high
ground, hill; miṭṭe state of being high, rising ground, hill, mass, a large number;
(Hav.) muṭṭe heap (as of straw). Tu. miṭṭè prominent, protruding; muṭṭe heap.
Te. meṭṭa raised or high ground, hill; (K.) meṭṭu mound; miṭṭa high ground, hillock, mound; high,
elevated, raised, projecting; (VPK) mēṭu, mēṭa, mēṭi stack of hay; (Inscr.) meṇṭa-cēnu dry field
(cf. meṭṭu-nēla, meṭṭu-vari). Kol. (SR.) meṭṭā hill; (Kin.) meṭṭ,
(Hislop) met mountain. Nk. meṭṭ hill, mountain. Ga. (S.3, LSB 20.3) meṭṭa high land. Go. (Tr. W.
Ph.) maṭṭā, (Mu.) maṭṭa mountain; (M. L.) meṭāid., hill; (A. D. Ko.) meṭṭa, (Y. Ma. M.) meṭa hill;
(SR.) meṭṭā hillock Konḍa meṭa id.
Kuwi (S.) metta hill; (Isr.) meṭa sand hill.(DEDR 5058). Rebus: meḍ ‘iron’
(Ho.Munda)mẽṛhet iron (metal), meD 'iron' (Ho.) med 'copper' (Slavic)

Sign 336 has hieroglyph components: muka 'ladle' (Tamil)(DEDR 4887) Rebus:mū̃h 'ingot'

(Santali).PLUS Sign 328 baṭa 'rimless pot' rebus: baṭa 'iron' bhaṭa 'furnace'. The hypertext
reads: mū̃h bhaṭa 'ingot furnace'

खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon)'
Rebus: khaṇḍa 'implements' (Santali).PLUSकर्णक, कर्र्णक m. (ifc. f(आ).) a prominence or
handle or projection on the side or sides (of a vessel &c ) , a tendril S3Br. Ka1tyS3r.karṇī 'rim of
jar' kárṇaka m. ʻ projection on the side of a vessel, handle ʼ ŚBr. [kárṇa -- ]Pa. kaṇṇaka -- ʻ
having ears or corners ʼ; Wg. kaṇə ʻ ear -- ring ʼ NTS xvii 266; S. kano m. ʻ rim, border ʼ;
P. kannā m. ʻ obtuse angle of a kite ʼ (→ H. kannā m. ʻ edge, rim, handle ʼ); N. kānu ʻ end of a
rope for supporting a burden ʼ; B. kāṇā ʻ brim of a cup ʼ, G. kānɔ m.; M. kānā m. ʻ touch -- hole
of a gun ʼ Rebus:कारणी or कारणीक [ kāraṇī or kāraṇīka ] 'supercargo of a ship responsible for
the cargo PLUS खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a
tool or weapon)' Rebus: khaṇḍa 'implements' (Santali).karṇadhāra m. ʻ helmsman ʼ Suśr. [kárṇa
-- , dhāra -- 1]
Pa. kaṇṇadhāra -- m. ʻ helmsman ʼ; Pk. kaṇṇahāra -- m. ʻ helmsman, sailor ʼ; H. kanahār m. ʻ
helmsman, fisherman ʼ. (CDIAL 2836) कर्णक, कर्र्णक having a helm; m. a
steersman m. (ifc. f(आ).)
karṇaka ‘scribe, accountant’ (Te.); gaṇaka id. (Skt.)

7
 dul mũhã̄ 'metalcast ingot'.PLUS dhāḷ 'a slope'; 'inclination' ḍhāla n. ʻ shield ʼ lex. 2.
*ḍhāllā -- .1. Tir. (Leech) "dàl" ʻ shield ʼ, Bshk. ḍāl, Ku. ḍhāl, gng. ḍhāw, N. A. B. ḍhāl,
Or. ḍhāḷa, Mth. H. ḍhāl m.2. Sh. ḍal (pl. °le̯) f., K. ḍāl f., S. ḍhāla, L. ḍhāl (pl. °lã) f., P. ḍhāl f.,
G. M. ḍhāl f.Addenda: ḍhāla -- . 2. *ḍhāllā -- : WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ḍhāˋl f. (obl. -- a) ʻ shield ʼ (a
word used in salutation), J. ḍhāl f.(CDIAL 5583). Rebus: ḍhālako a large metal ingot PLUS ayo
'fish' rebus: ayas 'alloy metal'. See decipherment in Set 1. Vikalpa reading for Sign 407 as
hypertext: dul mũhã̄ ḍhālako 'metalcast large ingot'

Sign 403 is a duplication of dula 'pair, duplicated' rebus: dul 'metalcasting'

PLUS Sign'oval/lozenge/rhombus' hieoglyph Sign 373. Sign 373 has the shape of oval or
lozenge is the shape of a bun ingot. mũhã̄ = the quantity of iron produced atone time in a native
smelting furnace of the Kolhes; iron produced by the Kolhes and formed likea four-cornered
piece a little pointed at each end; mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes andformed into an
equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends; kolhe tehen mẽṛhẽt komūhā akata = the
Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron (Santali). Thus, Sign 373 signifies word, mũhã̄ 'bun ingot'.
Thus, hypertext Sign 403 reads: dul mũhã̄ 'metalcast ingot'.

Vikalpa: Hypertext:dul mũhã̄ 'metalcast ingot' PLUS bārī , 'small ear-ring': H. bālā m. ʻbraceletʼ
(→ S. ḇālo m. ʻbracelet worn by Hindusʼ), bālī, bārī f. ʻsmall ear -- ringʼ, OMārw. bālī f.;
G. vāḷɔ m. ʻ wire ʼ, pl. ʻ ear ornament made of gold wire ʼ; M. vāḷā m. ʻ ring ʼ, vāḷī f. ʻ nose --
ring ʼ.(CDIAL 11573) Rebus: bārī 'merchant' vāḍhī, bari, barea 'merchant' bārakaśa 'seafaring
vessel'. Vikalpa: karã̄ 'wristlets, bangles', khãr 'ironsmith' Rebus: khār 1 खार् । लोहकारः m. (sg.
abl. khāra 1 खार; the pl. dat. of this word is khāran 1 खारन् , which is to be distinguished
from khāran 2, q.v., s.v.), a blacksmith, an iron worker (cf. bandūka-khār, p. 111b, l. 46; K.Pr.
46; H. xi, 17); a farrier (El.). This word is often a part of a name, and in such case comes at the
end (W. 118) as in Wahab khār, Wahab the smith (H. ii, 12; vi, 17). khāra-basta खार-बस्््त ।
चमिप्रसेत्रवका f. the skin bellows of a blacksmith. -büṭhü -ब&above;ठू&below; । लोहकारत्रित्रिः f.
the wall of a blacksmith's furnace or hearth. -bāy -बाय् । लोहकारपत्नी f. a blacksmith's wife
(Gr.Gr. 34). -dŏkuru -द्वकुरु &below; । लोहकारायोघनः m. a blacksmith's hammer, a sledge-
hammer. -gȧji -ग&above;त्रि&below; or -güjü -ग&above;िू &below; । लोहकारचुल्लः f. a
blacksmith's furnace or hearth. -hāl -हाल् । लोहकारकनिु ः f. (sg. dat. -höjü -हा&above;िू &below;),
a blacksmith's smelting furnace; cf. hāl 5. -kūrü -कूरू &below; । लोहकारकन्या f. a blacksmith's
daughter. -koṭu -क&above;टु &below; । लोहकारपु िः m. the son of a blacksmith, esp. a skilful son,
who can work at the same profession. -küṭü -क&above;टू &below; । लोहकारकन्या f. a
blacksmith's daughter, esp. one who has the virtues and qualities properly belonging to her
father's profession or caste. -më˘ʦü 1 -म्य&above;च&dotbelow;्ू &below; । लोहकारमृत्रिका f.
(for 2, see [khāra 3] ), 'blacksmith's earth,' i.e. iron-ore. -nĕcyuwu -न्यत्रचवु &below; ।
लोहकारात्मिः m. a blacksmith's son. -nay -नय् । लोहकारनात्रलका f. (for khāranay 2, see [khārun] ),
the trough into which the blacksmith allows melted iron to flow after smelting. -ʦañĕ -
च्&dotbelow;ञ । लोहकारिान्ताङ्गाराः f.pl. charcoal used by blacksmiths in their furnaces. -

8
wān वान् । -- 48 -- लोहकारापणः m. a blacksmith's shop, a forge, smithy (K.Pr. 3). -waṭh -वठ् ।
आघाताधारत्रिला m. (sg. dat. -waṭas -वत्रट), the large stone used by a blacksmith as an
anvil.(Kashmiri)

koḍ 'one' rebus: koḍ 'workshop'

खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon)'
Rebus: khaṇḍa 'implements' (Santali).

Sign 48 is a 'backbone, spine' hieroglyph: baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus: baran,
bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) 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 ʼH. kã̄ṭā m. ʻ spine ʼ, G. kã̄ṭɔ m., M. kã̄ṭā m.; Pk. kaṁḍa --
m. ʻ backbone ʼ.(CDIAL 2670) Rebus: kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar’ (Santali) bharatiyo = a caster of metals; a
brazier; bharatar, bharatal, bharataḷ = moulded; an article made in a
mould; bharata = casting metals in moulds; bharavum = to fill in; to put in; to pour
into (Gujarati) bhart = a mixed metal of copper and lead; bhartīyā = a brazier, worker in
metal; bhaṭ, bhrāṣṭra = oven, furnace (Sanskrit. )baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4
zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) Vikalpa: *karaṇḍa -- 4 ʻ backbone ʼ*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. kaṇḍom. 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). Rebus: கரடு¹ karaṭu , n. [K. M. karaḍu.] 1.
Roughness, ruggedness, unevenness; முருடு. ஈண்டுரு காக் கரடு (அருட்பா, iv,
பத்தி. 6). 2. Churlish temper; முருட்டுக்குணம் . 3. Hillock, low hill; சிறுகுன்று. Loc. 4.
Ankle; காற் பரடு. (பிங் .) 5. Knot in wood; மரக்கணு. கரடார் மரம் (திருப்பு. 70). 6.
Turf; புற் கரடு. 7. That which is stunted in growth; வளர்ச்சியற் றது. கரட்டுப்பசு. 8. A
variety of pearl; ஒருவகக முத்து. (S.I.I. ii, 549.) खरवई kharavī f An instrument of braziers,-
-the anvil on which vessels are hung to be hammered.खरवट kharavaṭa a
Rough. खरबड kharabaḍa a Uneven or unequal--the ground: also rough through adhering matter-
-a vessel, hands, the body &c.खरपट kharapaṭa n A crag or a massy rock gen. 2 Ground
composed of rock, stone, and मुरूम intermingled. Applied often to the ordinary table-land of
hills खरखरा kharakharā m A rough kind of touchstone. Ta. karaṭu roughness, unevenness,
churlish temper; karaṭṭu rugged, uneven, unpolished; karaṇ uneven surface in vegetables and
fruits, scar; karu prong, barb, spike; karumai, karil severity, cruelty; karukku teeth of a saw or

9
sickle, jagged edge of palmyra leaf-stalk, sharpness. Ma. karaṭu what is rough or
uneven; kaṟu rough; kaṟuppu roughness; karuma sharpness of sword; karukku teeth of a saw
or file, thorns of a palmyra branch, irregular surface; karukarukka to be harsh, sharp, rough,
irritating; karikku edge of teeth; kari-muḷ hard thorn; projecting parts of the skin of custard-
apples, jack-fruits, etc.; kari-maṭal rind of jack-fruits. Ko. karp keenness or harshness (of
wind); ? kako·ṭ hoe with sharp, broad blade (for -ko·ṭ, see 2064). Ka. karaḍu that is rough,
uneven, unpolished, hard, or waste, useless, or wicked; kaṟaku, karku, kakku, gaṟaku,
garaku, garku, garasu a jag, notch, dent, toothed part of a file or saw, rough part of a millstone,
irregular surface, sharpness. Tu. karaḍů, karaḍu rough, coarse, worn out; wastage, loss,
wear; kargōṭa hardness, hard-heartedness; hard, hard-hearted; garu rough; garimeseverity,
strictness; gargāsů a saw. Te. kara sharp; karagasamu a
saw; karakasa roughness; karusu rough, harsh; harsh words; kaṟaku, kaṟuku harshness,
roughness, sharpness; rough, harsh, sharp; gari hardness, stiffness, sharpness;
(B.) karaṭi stubborn, brutish, villainous; kakku a notch or dent, toothed part of a saw, file, or
sickle, roughness of a millstone. Go. (Ma.) karkara sharp (Voc. 543). Kur. karcnā to be tough,
(Hahn) be hardened. ? Cf. 1260 Ka. garasu. / Cf. Skt. karaṭa- a low, unruly, difficult
person; karkara- hard, firm; karkaśa- rough, harsh, hard; krakaca-,
karapattra- saw; khara- hard, harsh, rough, sharp-edged; kharu- harsh, cruel;
Pali kakaca- saw; khara- rough; saw; Pkt. karakaya- saw; Apabhraṃśa (Jasaharacariu)
karaḍa- hard. Cf. esp. Turner, CDIAL, no. 2819. Cf. also Skt. karavāla- sword (for second
element, cf. 5376 Ta. vāḷ).(DEDR 1265)

Sign 171bhaṭa 'warrior' rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace'

Sign 75 ḍhaṁkaṇa 'lid' rebus dhakka 'excellent, bright, blazing metal article'.aya 'fish' rebus:
ayas 'iron,alloy metal'. Thus, bright, blazing alloy metal. To be distinguished from Sign 65 (fish
without fin)

Sign 72Hieroglyph: dhāḷ 'a slope'; 'inclination' ḍhāla n. ʻ shield ʼ lex. 2. *ḍhāllā -- .1. Tir.
(Leech) "dàl" ʻ shield ʼ, Bshk. ḍāl, Ku. ḍhāl, gng. ḍhāw, N. A. B. ḍhāl, Or. ḍhāḷa, Mth.
H. ḍhāl m.2. Sh. ḍal (pl. °le̯) f., K. ḍāl f., S. ḍhāla, L. ḍhāl (pl. °lã) f., P. ḍhāl f., G.
M. ḍhāl f.Addenda: ḍhāla -- . 2. *ḍhāllā -- : WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ḍhāˋl f. (obl. -- a) ʻ shield ʼ (a word
used in salutation), J. ḍhāl f.(CDIAL 5583). Rebus: ḍhālako a large metal ingot PLUS ayo 'fish'
rebus: ayas 'alloy metal'. See decipherment in Set 1.

Sign 293/ Sign301 The 'curve' hieroglyph is a splitting of the ellipse. kuṭila ‘bent’ CDIAL
3230 kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’, kuṭika— ‘bent’ MBh.
Rebus: कुत्रटल kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) cf. āra-kūṭa, 'brass' Old
English ār 'brass, copper, bronze' Old Norse eir 'brass, copper', German ehern 'brassy,

10
bronzen'. kastīra n. ʻ tin ʼ lex. 2. *kastilla -- .1. H. kathīr m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; G. kathīr n. ʻ pewter
ʼ.2. H. (Bhoj.?) kathīl, °lā m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; M. kathīl n. ʻ tin ʼ, kathlẽ n. ʻ large tin vessel
ʼ.(CDIAL 2984) PLUS खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a
tool or weapon)' Rebus: kaNDa 'implements' (Santali)

bicha 'scorpion' rebus: bica 'haematite ore, ferrite ore' (Santali). vŕ̊ścika m. (vr̥ścana -- m.
lex.) ʻ scorpion ʼ RV., ʻ cater- pillar covered with bristles ʼ lex. [Variety of form for ʻ scorpion ʼ
in MIA. and NIA. due to taboo? <-> √vraśc?] Pa. vicchika -- m. ʻ scorpion ʼ, Pk. vicchia --
, viṁchia -- m., Sh.koh. bičh m. (< *vr̥ści -- ?), Ku. bichī, A. bisā (also ʻ hairy caterpillar ʼ: -
- ī replaced by m. ending -- ā), B. Or. bichā, Mth. bīch, Bhoj. Aw.lakh. bīchī, H.
poet. bīchī f., bīchā m., G. vīchī, vĩchī m.; -- *vicchuma -- : Paš.lauṛ. uċúm, dar. učum,
S. vichū̃ m., (with greater deformation) L.mult. vaṭhũhã, khet. vaṭṭhũha; -- Pk. vicchua --
, viṁchua -- m., L. vichū m., awāṇ. vicchū, P. bicchū m., Or. (Sambhalpur) bichu, Mth. bīchu,
H. bicchū, bīchū m., G. vīchu m.; -- Pk. viccu -- , °ua -- , viṁcua -- m., K. byucu m. (← Ind.),
P.bhaṭ. biccū, WPah.bhal. biċċū m., cur. biccū, bhiḍ. biċċoṭū n. ʻ young scorpion ʼ,
M. vīċũ, vĩċū m. (vĩċḍā m. ʻ large scorpion ʼ), vĩċvī, °ċvīṇ, °ċīṇ f., Ko. viccu, viṁcu, iṁcu. --
N. bacchiũ ʻ large hornet ʼ? (Scarcely < *vapsi -- ~ *vaspi -- ). vr̥ścikapattrikā --
. Addenda: vŕ̊ścika -- : Garh. bicchū, °chī ʻ scorpion ʼ, A. also bichā (phonet. -- s -- ) (CDIAL
12081)

Variants ofSign 51 The orthographic focus is

on 'stinger' of the scorpion. This is NOT a backside view of a seated bandicoot (9845 text, even
on this, the focus is on the curved stinger.)

Two unique modifiers occur as superscripts on two composite signs: Sign 51 and Sign327.

Sign 327 V326 (Orthographic variants of Sign

326) V327 (Orthographic variants of Sign 327)

Zebu and nine leaves. In front of the standard device and the stylized tree of 9 leaves, are the
black buck antelopes. Black paint on red ware of Kulli style. Mehi. Second-half of 3rd
millennium BCE. [After G.L. Possehl, 1986, Kulli: an exploration of anancient civilization in

11
South Asia, Centers of Civilization, I, Durham, NC: 46, fig. 18 (Mehi II.4.5), based on Stein
1931: pl. 30.

The modifiers to the basic signs of 'scorpion'; and 'ficus leaf' respectively, may be called
attachments which are like ears as superscripts. Read as -karaṇīya 'duty, business' related
to bica 'scorpion' rebus: bica 'haematite, ferrite ore'. and loa 'ficus glomerata' rebus: loh 'copper'.
Thus, the two signs are read as hypertexts:bica -karaṇīya and loh-karaṇīya meaning: 'haematite
ore business and copper ore business'.
lo 'iron', khār 'blacksmith', 'lohakāra 'coppersmith, ironsmith' (Pali)
The 'ears' hieroglyphs signify:kárṇa 'ear' rebus: karaṇīya -- n. ʻ duty, business ʼ(Pali).

Thus, the two signs Sign 51 and Sign 327 are signifiers of smith's duty related to loh 'copper'
and bica 'haematiteore'.

gaṇḍa ‘four’ Rebus: kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar’. Counting in fours: gaṇḍaka m. ʻ a coin worth four
cowries ʼ lex., ʻ method of counting by fours ʼ W. [← Mu. Przyluski RoczOrj iv
234]S. g̠aṇḍho m. ʻ four in counting ʼ; P. gaṇḍā m. ʻ four cowries ʼ; B. Or. H. gaṇḍā m. ʻ a group
of four, four cowries ʼ; M. gaṇḍā m. ʻ aggregate of four cowries or pice ʼ(CDIAL
4001) gaṇḍa2 m. ʻ joint of plant ʼ lex., gaṇḍi -- m. ʻ trunk of tree from root to branches ʼ lex. 2.
*gēṇḍa -- . 3. *gēḍḍa -- 2. 4. *gēḍa -- 1. [Cf. kāˊṇḍa -- : prob. ← Drav. DED 1619]1.
Pa. gaṇḍa -- m. ʻ stalk ʼ, °ḍī -- f. ʻ sugarcane joint, shaft or stalk used as a bar ʼ, Pk. gaṁḍa --
m., °ḍiyā -- f.; Kt. gäṇa ʻ stem ʼ; Paš. lauṛ. gaṇḍīˊ ʻ stem, stump of a tree, large roof beam ʼ (→
Par. gaṇḍāˊ ʻ stem ʼ, Orm. goṇ ʻ stick ʼ IIFL i 253, 395), gul. geṇḍū, nir. gaṇīˊ, kuṛ. gã̄ṛo; Kal.
urt. gəṇ ʻ log (in a wall) ʼ, rumb. goṇ (st. gōṇḍ -- ) ʻ handle ʼ, guṇḍík ʻ stick ʼ; Kho.
(Lor.) gon, gonu, (Morgenstierne) gɔ̄ˋn ʻ haft of axe, spade or knife ʼ (or < ghaná -- 2?);
K. gonḍu, groṇ̆ ḍu m. ʻ great untrimmed log ʼ; S. ganu m. ʻ oar, haft of a tool ʼ, °no m. ʻ sweet
stalks of millet ʼ; P. gannā m. ʻ sugarcane ʼ (→ H. gannā m.), Bi. gaṇḍā, H. gã̄ṛā m., M. gã̄ḍā m.
-- Deriv. Pk. gaṁḍīrī -- f. ʻ sugarcane joint ʼ; Bhoj. gãṛērī ʻ small pieces of sugarcane ʼ;
H. gãḍerī f. ʻ knot of sugarcane ʼ; G. gãḍerī f. ʻ piece of peeled sugarcane ʼ; -- Pk. gaṁḍalī -- ʻ
sugarcane joint ʼ; Kal. rumb. gaṇḍau (st. °ḍāl -- ) ʻ ancestor image ʼ; S. g̠anaru m. ʻ stock of a
vegetable run to seed ʼ.2. Ku. gino ʻ block, log ʼ; N. gĩṛ ʻ log ʼ, gĩṛo ʻ piece of sugarcane ʼ
(whence gẽṛnu, gĩṛ° ʻ to cut in pieces ʼ); B. gẽṛ ʻ tuber ʼ; Mth. gẽṛī ʻ piece of sugarcane chopped
ready for the mill ʼ.3. Pk. geḍḍī -- , giḍḍiā -- f. ʻ stick ʼ; P. geḍī f. ʻ stick used in a game ʼ,
H. geṛī f. (or < 4).4. N. gir, girrā ʻ stick, esp. one used in a game ʼ, H. gerī f., geṛī f. (or < 3),
G. geṛī f.*gaṇḍāsi -- ; *agragaṇḍa -- , *prāgragaṇḍa -- .Addenda: gaṇḍa -- 2: S.kcch. gann m. ʻ
handle ʼ; -- WPah.kṭg. gannɔ m. ʻ sugar -- cane ʼ; Md. ganḍu ʻ piece, page, playing -- card
ʼ.(CDIAL 3998)

kolmo 'three' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'

12
 ranku 'liquid measure' rebus: ranku 'tin' PLUS kāṇḍ 'flowing water' rebus:khaṇḍ 'equipment'

dánta m. ʻ tooth ʼ RV. [dánt -- RV.]Pa. danta -- m. ʻ tooth, tusk ʼ; Pk. daṁta -- m. ʻ tooth,
part of a mountain ʼ; Gy. eur. dand m. ʻ tooth ʼ, pal. dṓndă, Ash. dō˘nt, Kt. dut, Wg. dō t̃ , dūt̃ ,
Pr. letum, lätəm, 'ätəm ʻ my (?) tooth ʼ, Dm. dan, Tir. d*lndə, Paš. lauṛ. dan(d), uzb. dōn,
Niṅg. daṅ, Shum. dandem ʻ my tooth ʼ, Woṭ. dan m., Gaw. dant, Kal.urt. d*ln,
rumb. dh*lndōŕy*lk (lit. ʻ front and back teeth ʼ? -- see *dāṁṣṭra -- ); Kho. don, Bshk. d*lndə,
Tor. d*ln, Kand. dɔdi, Mai. dān, Sv. dānd, Phal. dān, pl. dānda, Sh.gil. do̯n, pl. dōnye̯ m. (→
Ḍ. don m.), pales. d*ln, jij. dɔn, K. dand m., rām. pog. ḍoḍ. dant, S. ḍ̠andu m.; L. dand,
mult. ḍand, (Ju.) ḍ̠ãd m., khet. dant ʻ tooth ʼ, (Shahpur) dãd f. ʻ cliff, precipice ʼ; P. dand m. ʻ
tooth, ʼ WPah.bhad. bhal. paṅ. cur. dant, cam. dand, pāḍ. dann, Ku. N. dã̄t (< *dã̄d in N. dã̄de ʻ
harrow, a kind of grass ʼ), A. B. dã̄t, Or. dānta, Mth. Bhoj. Aw.lakh. H. Marw. G. M. dã̄t m.,
Ko. dāntu, Si. data. -- Ext. -- ḍa -- : Dm. dandə́ŕi, dánduri ʻ horse's bit ʼ, Phal. dándaṛi. -- See
Add.
Addenda: dánta -- : S.kcch. ḍandh m.pl. ʻ teeth ʼ; WPah.kṭg. (kc.) dānd m., J. dã̄d m., Garh. dã̄t,
Md. dat.(CDIAL 6152) Rebus: dhatu 'mineral ore'. Vikalpa: aduru 'harrow' rebus: aduru 'native
metal, unsmelted ore'.

Sign 347 is duplicated Sign 162: dula 'duplicated,, pair' rebus: dul 'metal
casting' kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolami 'smithy, forge. Vikalpa: pajhaṛ = to sprout from a root
(Santali); Rebus: pasra ‘smithy, forge’ (Santali). The hypertext Sign 347 reads: dul kolami 'metal
casting smithy, forge'

kamaḍha 'archer' Rebus: kammaṭa 'mint, coiner, coinage'

- ढालकाठी [ ḍhālakāṭhī ] f ढालखाां ब m A flagstaff; esp.the pole for a grand flag or standard
rebus:ढाल [ ḍhāla ]'dhalako 'a large metal ingot (Gujarati) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured
into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati). Vikalpa: koḍi ‘flag’ (Ta.)(DEDR
2049). Rebus 1: koḍ ‘workshop’ (Kuwi) Rebus 2: khŏḍ m. ‘pit’, khöḍü f. ‘small pit’ (Kashmiri.

CDIAL 3947) Vikalpa: Sign 402 In the context of metalwork guilds, the flag is the
compound expression: dhvajapaṭa ʻflagʼ PLUS dhvajapaṭa

13
 m. ʻ flag ʼ Kāv. [dhvajá -- , paṭa -- ]Pk. dhayavaḍa -- m. ʻ flag ʼ, OG. dhayavaḍa m.
Rebus: Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; 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 dhāvaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); --
Si. dā ʻ relic (CDIAL 6773) Thus, dhāvaḍ koḍ ‘iron smelter workshop’.

Thus, the flag Sign 402 may be paṭa rebus: phaḍa 'metals manufactory'

कर्णक 'm. du. the two legs spread out AV. xx , 133 , 3' Vikalpa 1: mē̃ḍ 'body'
rebus: mē̃ḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.) Vikalpa 2:kāṭi 'body stature; Rebus: kāṭi 'fireplace trench'

warrior: kṣatríya ʻ ruling ʼ RV., m. ʻ one of the ruling order ʼ AV. [kṣatrá -- ]Pa. khattiya --
m. ʻ member of the Kṣatriya caste ʼ, °yā<-> f., Pk. khattia -- m., °ti -- m.f., °tiṇī -- , °tiyāṇī -- f.,
L. khattrī m., °rāṇī f., P. khattrī m.; Si. käti ʻ warrior ʼ.(CDIAL 3649) Rebus: khātī m. ʻmember
of a caste of wheelwrightsʼ.
Vikalpa: Horned: dhangar 'bull' Rebus: dhangar 'blacksmith'

taṭṭal 'five, count of five, hand-clap' (Tamil) Homonym/Rebus is: ṭhaṭṭha brass (i.e. alloy
of copper + zinc) *ṭhaṭṭha1 ʻbrassʼ. Svastika glyph: sattva 'svastika' glyph సత్తుతపెల a vessel
made of pewter िपुधातुत्रविेषत्रनत्रमितम् Glosses for zinc are: sattu (Tamil), satta, sattva (Kannada)
jasth िसथ् िपु m. (sg. dat. jastas ज्तस), zinc, spelter; pewter; zasath ्् ज़स् ््थ् ््or zasuth ज़सुथ ््।
रप m. (sg. dat. zastas ्ु ज़्तस),्् zinc, spelter, pewter (cf. Hindī jast). jastuvu; । रपू िवः
् adj. (f.
jastüvü), made of zinc or pewter.(Kashmiri). Hence the hieroglyph: svastika repeated five times
on a Harappa epigraph (h182). Five svastika are thus read: taṭṭal sattva Rebus: zinc (for) brass (or
pewter).

14
The Meluhha gloss for 'five' is: taṭṭal Homonym is: ṭhaṭṭha brass (i.e. alloy of copper +
zinc) *ṭhaṭṭha1 ʻbrassʼ. [Onom. from noise of hammering brass?]N. ṭhaṭṭar ʻ an alloy of copper
and bell metal ʼ. *ṭhaṭṭhakāra ʻ brass worker ʼ. 1.Pk. ṭhaṭṭhāra -- m., K. ṭhoṭ̃ hur m.,
S. ṭhã̄ṭhāro m., P. ṭhaṭhiār, °rā m.2. P. ludh. ṭhaṭherā m., Ku. ṭhaṭhero m., N. ṭhaṭero,
Bi. ṭhaṭherā, Mth. ṭhaṭheri, H.ṭhaṭherā m.(CDIAL 5491, 5493).

dhollu 'drummer' (Western Pahari) dolutsu 'tumble' Rebus: dul 'cast metal'. karaḍa 'double-
drum' rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy'.

karã̄ n.' pl. wristlets, bangles' Rebus: khār 'blacksmith, iron worker'.

dula 'two' rebus: dul 'metal casting'

karṇaka 'rim of jar' rebus: karṇI 'supercargo, a representative of the ship's owner on board a
merchant ship, responsible for overseeing the cargo and its sale.' rebus: karṇika 'scribe,
account'. कर्र्णका 'steersman, helmsman' (seafaring merchant)

15
“In order to identify the most prominent structures in each cluster, the most frequent contiguous
and non-contiguous sign pairs are listed in Table 5. Each cluster has an affinity to specific signs
and sign groups. For example, while sign number 342 is among the frequent signs in clusters C2,

16
C4, C5, C6, C8 and C9 (rank 1 to 3), the sign often associated with it in the most frequent sign
pairs in each cluster is different (Table 5). The current analysis demonstrates that there are
different structures in Indus writing that distinguish apparently similar texts by their association
to specific set of signs.”

Annex: Translation of palm squirrel hieroglyph in the Indus Script Corpus

Sign 186, ladder hieroglyph This is an allograph of 'palm squirrel'

hypertext.

Sign 186 *śrētrī ʻ ladder ʼ. [Cf. śrētr̥ -- ʻ one who has recourse to ʼ MBh. -- See śrití -- . --
√śri]Ash. ċeitr ʻ ladder ʼ (< *ċaitr -- dissim. from ċraitr -- ?).(CDIAL 12720)*śrēṣṭrī2 ʻ line,

17
 ladder ʼ. [For mng. ʻ line ʼ conn. with √śriṣ2 cf. śrḗṇi -- ~ √śri. -- See śrití -- . -- √śriṣ2]Pk. sēḍhĭ̄ -
- f. ʻ line, row ʼ (cf. pasēḍhi -- f. ʻ id. ʼ. -- < EMIA. *sēṭhī -- sanskritized as śrēḍhī -- , śrēṭī --
, śrēḍī<-> (Col.), śrēdhī -- (W.) f. ʻ a partic. progression of arithmetical figures ʼ); K. hēr,
dat. °ri f. ʻ ladder ʼ.(CDIAL 12724) Rebus: śrḗṣṭha ʻ most splendid, best ʼ RV. [śrīˊ -
- ]Pa. seṭṭha -- ʻ best ʼ, Aś.shah. man. sreṭha -- , gir. sesṭa -- , kāl. seṭha -- , Dhp. śeṭha -- ,
Pk. seṭṭha -- , siṭṭha -- ; N. seṭh ʻ great, noble, superior ʼ; Or. seṭha ʻ chief, principal ʼ;
Si. seṭa, °ṭu ʻ noble, excellent ʼ. śrēṣṭhin m. ʻ distinguished man ʼ AitBr., ʻ foreman of a guild
ʼ, °nī -- f. ʻ his wife ʼ Hariv. [śrḗṣṭha -- ]Pa. seṭṭhin -- m. ʻ guild -- master ʼ, Dhp. śeṭhi,
Pk. seṭṭhi -- , siṭṭhi -- m., °iṇī -- f.; S. seṭhi m. ʻ wholesale merchant ʼ; P. seṭh m. ʻ head of a guild,
banker ʼ, seṭhaṇ, °ṇī f.; Ku.gng. śēṭh ʻ rich man ʼ; N. seṭh ʻ banker ʼ; B. seṭh ʻ head of a guild,
merchant ʼ; Or. seṭhi ʻ caste of washermen ʼ; Bhoj. Aw.lakh. sēṭhi ʻ merchant, banker ʼ,
H. seṭh m., °ṭhan f.; G. śeṭh, śeṭhiyɔ m. ʻ wholesale merchant, employer, master ʼ;
M. śeṭh, °ṭhī, śeṭ, °ṭī m. ʻ respectful term for banker or merchant ʼ; Si. siṭu, hi° ʻ banker,
nobleman ʼ H. Smith JA 1950, 208 (or < śiṣṭá -- 2?)(CDIAL 12725, 12726)

Hieroglyph: squirrel (phonetic determinant): खार (p. 205) [ khāra ] A squirrel, Sciurus
palmarum. खारी (p. 205) [ khārī ] f (Usually खार) A squirrel. (Marathi) Rebus: khār खार् ।
लोहकारः m. (sg. abl. khāra 1 खार; the pl. dat. of this word is khāran 1 खारन् , which is to be
distinguished from khāran 2, q.v., s.v.), a blacksmith, an iron worker (cf. bandūka-khār, p.
111b,l. 46; K.Pr. 46; H. xi, 17); a farrier (El.). This word is often a part of a name, and in such
case comes at the end (W. 118) as in Wahab khār, Wahab the smith (H. ii, 12; vi, 17). khāra-
basta 'bellows of blacksmith'.
Longest inscription m0314 of Indus Script Corpora is catalogue of a guild-master. The guild
master is signified by Indus Script hypertext 'squirrel' hieroglyph 'khāra, šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄' Rebus:
plaintext: khār 'blacksmith'
śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master' (Aitareya Brāhmaṇa).

The guild-master signs off on the inscription by affixing his hieroglyph:

palm squirrel,Sciurus palmarum'

18
 m0314 Seal impression, Text
1400 Dimension: 1.4 sq. in. (3.6 cm) Marshall 1931 (Vol. II, p. 402).

This is perhaps the longest inscriptionof Indus Script Corpora.

m0314 The indus script inscription is a detailed account of the metal work engaged in by the
Indus artisans. It is a professional calling card of the metalsmiths' guild of Mohenjodaro used to
affix a sealing on packages of metal artefacts traded by Meluhha (mleccha)speakers.

The last sign is wrongly identified in Mahadevan concordance. This

hieroglyph is Squirrel as shown on Seal impression Flipped vertically is likey to

signify 'squirrel' as on Nindowari-damb seal 01

All hieroglyphs are read from r. to l.

Line 1:

eraka 'nave of wheel' rebus: eraka 'moltencast, copper' PLUS sal 'splinter' rebus: sal
'workshop'. Thus, moltencast copper workshop.

Fish + lid: aya dhakka,Rebus: aya dhakka 'bright iron/alloy metal'.

Fish + fin: aya khambhaṛā rebus: aya kammaṭa 'alloy metal mint, coiner, coinage'

Fish + sloping stroke, aya dhāḷ ‘metal ingot’ (Vikalpa: ḍhāḷ = a slope; the inclination of a plane
(G.) Rebus: : ḍhāḷako = a large metal ingot (G.)

19
khaṇḍa 'arrow' rebus: khaṇḍa 'implements'

Thus, line 1 reads: bright iron/alloy metal, alloy metal mint, large metal ingot (ox-hide)

Line 2:

मेंढा [ mēṇḍhā ] A crook or curved end (of a stick, horn &c.) and attrib. such a stick, horn,
bullock. मेढा [ mēḍhā ] m A stake, esp. as forked. Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.Ho.) The
circumscript is composed of four 'splinters': gaNDa 'four' rebus: kaNDa 'implements', kanda 'fire-
altar' PLUS sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop'. Thus, this hieroglyph-multiplex or hypertext
signifies: iron implements workshop.

S. baṭhu m. ‘large pot in which grain is parched, Rebus; bhaṭṭhā m. ‘kiln’ (P.) baṭa = a kind of
iron (G.) Vikalpa: meṛgo = rimless vessels (Santali) bhaṭa ‘furnace’ (G.) baṭa = kiln (Santali);
baṭa = a kind of iron (G.) bhaṭṭha -- m.n. ʻ gridiron (Pkt.) baṭhu large cooking fire’ baṭhī f.
‘distilling furnace’; L. bhaṭṭh m. ‘grain—parcher's oven’, bhaṭṭhī f. ‘kiln, distillery’, awāṇ. bhaṭh;
P. bhaṭṭh m., ṭhī f. ‘furnace’, bhaṭṭhā m. ‘kiln’; S. bhaṭṭhī keṇī ‘distil (spirits)’. (CDIAL 9656)
Rebus: meḍ iron (Ho.) PLUS muka 'ladle' rebus; mū̃ h 'ingot', quantity of metal got out of a
smelter furnace (Santali).Thus, this hieroglyph-multiplex (hypertext) signifies: iron ingot.

kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' PLUS dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metalcasting'. Thus,
metalcasting smithy/forge.

kanka, karṇaka 'rim of jar' rebus: karṇī 'supercargo', 'engraver, scribe, account'

Thus line 2 signifies metal products -- iron ingots, metalcastings (of smithy/forge iron
metals workshop) handed over to Supercargo, (a representative of the ship's owner on
board a merchant ship, responsible for overseeing the cargo and its sale).

Line 3:

kolmo ‘three’ (Mu.); rebus: kolami ‘smithy’ (Telugu)

A. goṭ ‘a fruit, whole piece’, °ṭā ‘globular, solid’, guṭi ‘small ball, seed, kernel’; B. goṭā ‘seed,
bean, whole’; Or. goṭā ‘whole, undivided’, goṭi ‘small ball, cocoon’, goṭāli ‘small round piece of
chalk’; Bi. goṭā ‘seed’; Mth. goṭa ‘numerative particle’ (CDIAL 4271) Rebus: koṭe ‘forging
(metal)(Mu.) Rebus: goṭī f. ʻlump of silver' (G.) PLUS infix of sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop'.
Thus, the hieroglyph-multiplex or hypertext signifies: forged silver workshop.

20
 m009

Hieroglyph is a loop of threads formed on a loom or loose fringes of a garment. This may be
seen from the seal M-9 which contains the sign:

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.त्रित्रवत्रि- , 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)

Rebus: M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhāvaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron --
smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ
MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ
ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; (CDIAL
6773) धातु primary element of the earth i.e. metal , mineral, ore (esp. a mineral of a red
colour) Mn. MBh. &c element of words i.e. grammatical or verbal root or
stem Nir. Pra1t. MBh. &c (with the southern Buddhists धातु means either the 6 elements [see
above] Dharmas. xxv ; or the 18 elementary spheres [धातु -लोक] ib. lviii ; or the ashes of the body
, relics L. [cf. -गिि ]) (Monier-Williams. Samskritam)

21
Thus, this hieroglyph signifies three types of ferrite ore: magnetite, hematite and laterite (poLa,
bicha, goTa). Vikalpa: Ko. gōṭu ʻ silver or gold braid ʼ.(CDIAL 4271) Rebus: goṭī f. ʻlump of
silver' (G.)

Hieroglyph: Archer with bow and arrow on one hand: kamāṭhiyo = archer; kāmaṭhum = a bow;
kāmaḍ, kāmaḍum = a chip of bamboo (G.) kāmaṭhiyo a bowman; an archer (Skt.lex.) Rebus:
kammaṭi a coiner (Ka.); kampaṭṭam coinage, coin, mint (Ta.) kammaṭa = mint, gold furnace (Te.)

kolom 'rice plant' rebus:kolimi 'smithy, forge'.

kanac 'corner' rebus: kañcu 'bronze' Vikalpa: (A.) kũdār, kũdāri (B.); kundāru (Or.); kundau to
turn on a lathe, to carve, to chase; kundau dhiri = a hewn stone; kundau murhut = a graven image
(Santali) kunda a turner's lathe (Skt.)(CDIAL 3295).

Hieroglyph: squirrel: *śrēṣṭrī1 ʻ clinger ʼ. [√śriṣ1]Phal. šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ ʻ flying squirrel ʼ?(CDIAL 12723)
Rebus: guild master khāra, 'squirrel', rebus: khār खार् 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri). *śrēṣṭrī1 ʻ clinger
ʼ. [√śriṣ1] Phal. šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ ʻ flying squirrel ʼ? (CDIAL 12723) Rebus: śrēṣṭhin m. ʻ distinguished man
ʼ AitBr., ʻ foreman of a guild ʼ, °nī -- f. ʻ his wife ʼ Hariv. [śrḗṣṭha -- ] Pa. seṭṭhin -- m. ʻ guild --
master ʼ, Dhp. śeṭhi, Pk. seṭṭhi -- , siṭṭhi -- m., °iṇī -- f.; S. seṭhi m. ʻ wholesale merchant ʼ;
P. seṭh m. ʻ head of a guild, banker ʼ,seṭhaṇ, °ṇī f.; Ku.gng. śēṭh ʻ rich man ʼ; N. seṭh ʻ banker ʼ;
B. seṭh ʻ head of a guild, merchant ʼ; Or. seṭhi ʻ caste of washermen ʼ; Bhoj. Aw.lakh. sēṭhi ʻ
merchant, banker ʼ, H. seṭh m., °ṭhan f.; G. śeṭh, śeṭhiyɔ m. ʻ wholesale merchant, employer,
master ʼ; M. śeṭh, °ṭhī, śeṭ, °ṭī m. ʻ respectful term for banker or merchant ʼ; Si. siṭu, hi° ʻ banker,
nobleman ʼ H. Smith JA 1950, 208 (or < śiṣṭá -- 2?) (CDIAL 12726) I suggest that the šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ ʻ
flying squirrel ʼ? is read rebus: śeṭhī, śeṭī m. ʻ respectful term for banker or merchant ʼ (Marathi)
or eṭṭhin -- m. ʻ guild -- master ʼ(Prakrtam)

Thus, line 3 signifies: bronze guild master of smithy/forge, mint for three types of ferrite
mineral (magnetite, hematite, laterite)

The three lines together, the engtire inscription of m0314 is a metalwork cagtalogue of a guild-
master of workshops working in:

(1) native unsmelted metal, metal mint, large metal ingot (oxhide)

(2) metal products -- iron ingots, metalcastings (of smithy/forge iron metals workshop)
handed over to Supercargo, (a representative of the ship's owner on board a merchant
ship, responsible for overseeing the cargo and its sale)

(3)smithy/forge, mint for three types of ferrite mineral (magnetite, hematite, laterite)

22
Long Indus Script inscription compares with Nindowari0-damb seal 01 which also shows
'squirrel'šē̃ṣṭrĭ̄ ʻflying squirrelʼ,'guild master'.

kanac 'corner' rebus: kañcu 'bronze'

मेंढा [ mēṇḍhā ] A crook or curved end (of a stick, horn &c.) and attrib. such a stick, horn,
bullock. मेढा [ mēḍhā ] m A stake, esp. as forked. Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.Ho.) The
circumscript is composed of four 'splinters': gaNDa 'four' rebus: kaNDa 'implements', kanda 'fire-
altar'

खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon)' Rebus:
kaNDa 'implements' (Santali).

kole.l 'temple' rebus: kole.l 'smithy, forge'

kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' PLUS dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metalcasting'. Thus,
metalcasting smithy/forge.

kanka, karNaka 'rim of jar' rebus: karNI 'supercargo', 'engraver, scribe, account'

Hieroglyph: 8 short strokes: gaNDa 'four' rebus: kaNDa 'implements'PLUS sal 'splinter' rebus:
sal 'workshop'. Thus, this hieroglyph-multiplex or hypertext signifies: iron implements
workshop.

Hieroglyph: squirrel: *śrēṣṭrī1 ʻ clinger ʼ. [√śriṣ1]Phal. šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ ʻ flying squirrel ʼ?(CDIAL 12723)
Rebus: guild master khāra, 'squirrel', rebus: khār खार् 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri). *śrēṣṭrī1 ʻ clinger
ʼ. [√śriṣ1] Phal. šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ ʻ flying squirrel ʼ? (CDIAL 12723) Rebus: śrēṣṭhin m. ʻ distinguished man
ʼ AitBr., ʻ foreman of a guild ʼ, °nī -- f. ʻ his wife ʼ Hariv. [śrḗṣṭha -- ] Pa. seṭṭhin -- m. ʻ guild --
master ʼ, Dhp. śeṭhi, Pk. seṭṭhi -- , siṭṭhi -- m., °iṇī -- f.; S. seṭhi m. ʻ wholesale merchant ʼ;
P. seṭh m. ʻ head of a guild, banker ʼ,seṭhaṇ, °ṇī f.; Ku.gng. śēṭh ʻ rich man ʼ; N. seṭh ʻ banker ʼ;
B. seṭh ʻ head of a guild, merchant ʼ; Or. seṭhi ʻ caste of washermen ʼ; Bhoj. Aw.lakh. sēṭhi ʻ
merchant, banker ʼ, H. seṭh m., °ṭhan f.; G. śeṭh, śeṭhiyɔ m. ʻ wholesale merchant, employer,
master ʼ; M. śeṭh, °ṭhī, śeṭ, °ṭī m. ʻ respectful term for banker or merchant ʼ; Si. siṭu, hi° ʻ banker,
nobleman ʼ H. Smith JA 1950, 208 (or < śiṣṭá -- 2?) (CDIAL 12726) I suggest that the šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ ʻ
flying squirrel ʼ? is read rebus: śeṭhī, śeṭī m. ʻ respectful term for banker or merchant ʼ (Marathi)

23
or eṭṭhin -- m. ʻ guild -- master ʼ(Prakrtam) Hypertext of Indus Script: šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ 'flying squirrel'
rebus: śrēṣṭhin 'foreman of a guild'.

Indian palm
squirrel, Funambulus Palmarum There are also other seals with signify the 'squirrel' hieroglyph.

Nindowari-damb seal Nd0-1; Mohenjo-daro seal m-1202; Harappa tablet h-771; Harappa tablet
h-419

m1634 ceramic stoneware bangle (badge)

Read from r. to l.:

24
Vikalpa: The prefix Sign 403: Hieroglyph: bārī , 'small ear-ring': H. bālā m. ʻbraceletʼ (→
S. ḇālo m. ʻbracelet worn by Hindusʼ), bālī, bārī f. ʻsmall ear -- ringʼ, OMārw. bālī f.; G. vāḷɔ m.
ʻ wire ʼ, pl. ʻ ear ornament made of gold wire ʼ; M. vāḷā m. ʻ ring ʼ, vāḷī f. ʻ nose -- ring
ʼ.(CDIAL 11573) Rebus: bārī 'merchant' vāḍhī, bari, barea 'merchant' bārakaśa 'seafaring
vessel'. If the duplication of the 'bangle' on Sign 403 signifies a plural, the reading could
be: karã̄ n. pl. wristlets, bangles Rebus: khār 'blacksmith, iron worker'.

Sign 403 is a duplication of bun-ingot shape. This shape is signified on a zebu

terracotta pratimā found at Harappa and is consistent with mūhā mẽṛhẽt process of making
unique bun-shaped ingots (See Santali expression and meaning described below):

I suggest that Sign 403 is

read: dul mūhā mẽṛhẽt 'cast iron ingot'.

Thus, the hypertext may read:

1. dul mūhā mẽṛhẽt uṟukku 'cast iron ingot,steel' or 2. khār uṟukku 'blacksmith, steel'.
If he squirrel is read as šēṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ ʻflying squirrel' rebus: śrēṣṭhin 'guild master' (Aitareya Brāhmaṇa),

the reading of the hypertext is:

1. dul mūhā mẽṛhẽt śrēṣṭhin 'cast iron ingot, guild-master' or 2. khār śrēṣṭhin 'blacksmith, guild-
master'.

Slide 33. Early Harappan zebu figurine with

incised spots from Harappa.पोळ [pōḷa], 'zebu' Rebus: magnetite,
citizen.(See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/zebu-archaeometallurgy-legacy-of-
india.html )
mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at
each of four ends (Santali) खोट (p. 212) [ khōṭa ] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal
melted down); an ingot or wedge. (Marathi)
An alternative reading for 'squirrel' hieroglyph is also suggested:

25
 The sequence of hieroglyphs Squirrel + Sign 403 signifies two professional
responsibilities/functions 1. khār 'blacksmith'; 2. seṭhi ʻwholesale merchant' (Sindhi).

Alternatively, 1. dul mūhā mẽṛhẽt 'cast iron ingot'; 2. khār 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)
or seṭhi ʻwholesale merchant' (Sindhi) or śrēṣṭhin 'guild master' (Aitareya Brāhmaṇa).

Thus, two readings are possible for the 'squirrel' hieroglyph: khār 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)
and/or seṭhi ʻwholesale merchant' (Sindhi) orśrēṣṭhin 'guild master' (Aitareya Brāhmaṇa)

Hieroglyph: squirrel (phonetic determinant): खार [ khāra ] A squirrel, Sciurus palmarum. खारी [ khārī
] f (Usually खार) A squirrel. (Marathi)

A homonymous hieroglyph or allograph: arms with bangles: karã̄ n. pl.

ʻwristlets, banglesʼ.(Gujarati)(CDIAL 2779) Rebus: khār खार् । लोहकारः m. (sg.
abl. khāra 1 खार; the pl. dat. of this word is khāran 1 खारन् , which is to be distinguished
from khāran 2, q.v., s.v.), a blacksmith, an iron worker (cf. bandūka-khār, p. 111b,l. 46; K.Pr. 46;
H. xi, 17); a farrier (El.). This word is often a part of a name, and in such case comes at the end
(W. 118) as in Wahab khār, Wahab the smith (H. ii, 12; vi, 17). khāra-basta 'bellows of
blacksmith'.with inscription.
*śrēṣṭrī1 ʻ clinger ʼ. [√śriṣ1]Phal. šē ṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄ ʻ flying squirrel ʼ?(CDIAL 12723) Rebus: guild master:
*śrēṣṭrī2 ʻ line, ladder ʼ. [For mng. ʻ line ʼ conn. with √śriṣ2 cf. śrḗṇi -- ~ √śri. -- See śrití -- . --
√śriṣ2]Pk. sēḍhĭ̄ -- f. ʻ line, row ʼ
(cf. pasēḍhi -- f. ʻ id. ʼ. -- < EMIA. *sēṭhī -- sanskritized as śrēḍhī -- , śrēṭī -- , śrēḍī<-> (Col.), śrēdhī --
(W.) f. ʻ a partic. progression of arithmetical figures ʼ); K. hēr, dat. °ri f. ʻ ladder ʼ.(CDIAL
12724)
Aś.shah. man. sreṭha -- , gir. sesṭa -- , kāl. seṭha -- , Dhp. śeṭha -- , Pk. seṭṭha -- , siṭṭha -- ; N. seṭh ʻ
great, noble, superior ʼ; Or. seṭha ʻ chief, principal ʼ; Si. seṭa, °ṭu ʻ noble, excellent ʼ. śrēṣṭhin m. ʻ
distinguished man ʼ AitBr., ʻ foreman of a guild ʼ, °nī -- f. ʻ his wife ʼ Hariv. [śrḗṣṭha -- ]Pa.
seṭṭhin -- m. ʻ guild -- master ʼ, Dhp. śeṭhi, Pk. seṭṭhi -- , siṭṭhi -- m., °iṇī -- f.; S.Rebus: śrḗṣṭha ʻ
most splendid, best ʼ RV. [śrīˊ -- ]Pa. seṭṭha -- ʻ best ʼ, seṭhi m. ʻ wholesale merchant ʼ; P. seṭh m.
ʻ head of a guild, banker ʼ, seṭhaṇ, °ṇī f.; Ku.gng. śēṭh ʻ rich man ʼ; N. seṭh ʻ banker ʼ; B. seṭh ʻ
head of a guild, merchant ʼ; Or. seṭhi ʻ caste of washermen ʼ; Bhoj. Aw.lakh. sēṭhi ʻ merchant,
banker ʼ, H. seṭh m., °ṭhan f.; G. śeṭh, śeṭhiyɔ m. ʻ wholesale merchant, employer, master ʼ; M.
śeṭh, °ṭhī, śeṭ, °ṭī m. ʻ respectful term for banker or merchant ʼ; Si. siṭu, hi° ʻ banker, nobleman ʼ
H. Smith JA 1950, 208 (or < śiṣṭá -- 2?)(CDIAL 12725, 12726)

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 Nindowari seal Nd-1
From l. to r.:
Squirrel 'khāra, šē ṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄' Indus Script hypertext is khār 'blacksmith' śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master' (Aitareya
Brāhmaṇa)
Vikalpa: tuttha 'squirrel' Rebus: tuttha 'pewter, zinc alloy'; dhAL 'slanted stroke'
Rebus: dhALako 'large ingot' khANDa 'notch' Rebus: khANDa 'metal implements';
kolmo 'rice plant' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'; dula 'two, pair'
Rebus: dul 'cast metal'; kanda kanka 'rim of pot' Rebus: khaNDa 'implements'
karNI 'supercargo, scribe'; maṇḍā 'warehouse, workshop' (Konkani); koDa 'one'
Rebus: koD 'workshop'; aya 'fish' Rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal'; kanac 'corner'
Rebus: kancu 'bronze'. konda 'young bull' Rebus: kondar 'turner' koD 'horn'
Rebus: koD 'workshop' sangaDa 'lathe, portable furnace'
Rebus: sangar 'fortification' sanghAta 'adamantine glue' (Varahamihira)

m1202
From r. to l.:

27
barad, barat 'ox' Rebus: bharat 'alloy of copper, pewter, tin' (Marathi) pattar 'trough' Rebus: pattar
'goldsmith guild'
muhA 'ingot'; dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' muhA 'ingot' (Together, dul muhA 'cast iron
ingot');
Squirrel 'khāra, šē ṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄' Indus Script hypertext is khār 'blacksmith' śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master' (Aitareya
Brāhmaṇa) Vikalpa: tuttha 'squirrel' Rebus: tuttha 'pewter, zinc alloy';

kanda kanka 'rim of pot' Rebus: khaNDa 'implements' karNI 'supercargo, scribe';
aduru 'harrow' Rebus: aduru 'native unsmelted metal';bhaṭa 'warrior' Rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace';
kanda kanka 'rim of pot' Rebus: khaNDa 'implements' karNI 'supercargo, scribe'; muhA 'ingot,
quantity of iron ore smelted out of the smelter'.

h771
dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' muhA 'ingot' (Together, dul muhA 'cast iron ingot');
Squirrel 'khāra, šē ṣ̃ ṭrĭ̄' Indus Script hypertext is khār 'blacksmith' śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master' (Aitareya
Brāhmaṇa) Vikalpa: tuttha 'squirrel' Rebus: tuttha 'pewter, zinc alloy';
dula 'two' Rebus: dul 'cast metal or casting'.
Thus, the epigraph with three hieroglyph-multiplexes read rebus: metal castings, cast metal
ingot, guild-master (pewter-zinc alloy.)

h419
̄
Squirrel 'khāra, šē ṣ̃ ṭrĭ' Indus Script hypertext is khār 'blacksmith' śrēṣṭhin 'guild-master' (Aitareya
Brāhmaṇa) Vikalpa: tuttha 'squirrel' Rebus: tuttha 'pewter, zinc alloy';

28
maṇḍā 'warehouse, workshop' (Konkani).
Thus, guild-master's warehouse.

Lexis for squirrel

tuttūḍ "squirrel' (Sora) Rebus: tuth 'blue vitriol or sulphate of copper'(Bengali) త్తత్తునాగము [
tuttināgamu ] tutti-nāgamu. [Chinese.] n. Pewter. Zinc. లోహవిశేషము (Telugu)

tsāni, tsānye ‘squirrel’ (Kon.) caṇila squirrel (To.); Vikalpa: sega ‘a species of squirrel’ (Santali)
rebus: śannī a small workshop (WPah) śannī f. ʻ small room in a house to keep sheep in ‘
(WPah.) Bshk. šan, Phal.šān ‘roof’ (Bshk.)(CDIAL 12326). seṇi (f.) [Class. Sk. śreṇi in meaning
"guild"; Vedic= row] Woṭ. šen ʻ roof ʼ, Bshk. šan, Phal. šān(AO xviii 251, followed by Buddruss
Woṭ 126, < śar(a)ṇa -- ); WPah. (Joshi) śannī f. ʻ small room in a house to keep sheep in ʼ.
Addenda: śaraṇá -- 2. 2. *śarṇa --WPah. kṭg.śɔ́nni f. ʻ bottom storey of a house in which young
of cattle are kept ʼ. śaraṇá ʻ protecting ʼ, n. ʻ shelter, home ʼ RV. 2. *śarṇa -- . [√śar] 1. Pa. Pk.
saraṇa -- n. ʻ protection, shelter, house ʼ; Ḍ. šərṓn m. ʻ roof ʼ (← Sh.?), Dm. šaran; P. saraṇ m. ʻ
protection, asylum ʼ, H. saran f.; G. sarṇũ n. ʻ help ʼ; Si.saraṇa ʻ defence, village, town ʼ; -- <
*śarāṇa -- or poss. *śāraṇa -- : Kho. šarān ʻ courtyard of a house ʼ, Sh. šarāṇŭ m. ʻ fence ʼ.
(CDIAL 12326)

Note: -ūḍ suffix in Sora gloss tuttūḍ finds expression in the following etyma:

உறுத்கத uṟuttai, n. [T. uṟuta, K. uḍute.] Squirrel; அணில் . (W.)

Ta. uṟukku (uṟukki-) to jump, leap over; uṟuttai squirrel. Te. uṟu to retreat, retire, withdraw;
uṟuku to jump, run away; uṟuta squirrel. Konḍa uRk- to run away. Kuwi (Isr.) urk- (-it-) to
dance.(DEDR 713)
Ka. uḍute squirrel. Te. uḍuta id.(DEDR 590)

Ta. uruku (uruki-) to dissolve (intr.) with heat, melt, liquefy, be fused, become tender, melt (as
the heart), be kind, glow with love, be emaciated; urukku (urukki-) to melt (tr.) with heat (as
metals or congealed substances), dissolve, liquefy, fuse, soften (as feelings), reduce, emaciate (as
the body), destroy; n. steel, anything melted, product of liquefaction; urukkam melting of heart,
tenderness, compassion, love (as to a deity, friend, or child); urukkiṉam that which facilitates the
fusion of metals (as borax). Ma. urukuka to melt, dissolve, be softened; urukkuka to melt (tr.);
urukkam melting, anguish; urukku what is melted, fused metal, steel. Ko. uk steel. Ka. urku,
ukku id. Koḍ. ur- (uri-) to melt (intr.); urïk- (urïki-) id. (tr.);
ukkï steel. Te. ukku id. Go. (Mu.) urī-, (Ko.) uṛi- to be melted, dissolved; tr. (Mu.) urih-
/urh- (Voc. 262).
Konḍa (BB) rūg- to melt, dissolve. Kui ūra (ūri-) to be dissolved; pl. action ūrka (ūrki-); rūga
(rūgi-) to be dissolved. Kuwi (Ṭ.) rūy- to be dissolved; (S.) rūkhnai to smelt; (Isr.) uku,
(S.) ukku steel. (DEDR 661) Te. uḍuku to boil, seethe, bubble with heat, simmer; n. heat,
boiling; uḍikincu, uḍikilu, uḍikillu to boil (tr.), cook. Go. (Koya Su.) uḍk ēru hot
water. Kuwi (S.) uḍku heat. Kur. uṛturnā to be agitated by the action of heat, boil, be boiled or
cooked; be tired up to excitement. Ta. (Keikádi dialect; Hislop, Papers relating to the Aboriginal
Tribes of the Central Provinces, Part II, p. 19) udku (presumably uḍku) hot (< Te.) (DEDR 588)

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tuttūḍ "squirrel' (Sora):So. tuttUD(R) ~ tuttum(R) `squirrel'. Sa. toR `a squirrel
(%Sciurus_tristiatus, %Sciurus_palmarum)'.Mu. tuRu `a squirrel (%Sciurus_tristiatus,
%Sciurus_palmarum)'.Ho tu `a squirrel (%Sciurus_tristiatus, %Sciurus_palmarum)'.Bh. tuR `a
squirrel (%Sciurus_tristiatus, %Sciurus_palmarum)'.KW tu`Ru`Ku. tur `a squirrel
(%Sciurus_tristiatus, %Sciurus_palmarum)'.@(V243,M072)(Munda etyma) tarukuTi 'squirrel'
(Kannada)

The glosses 1. खार [ khāra ] A squirrel, Sciurus palmarum. खारी [ khārī ] f (Usually खार)
A squirrel. (Marathi) and 2. urukku 'to jump, leap over' finds a parallel in Proto-Mon-khmer See:
Thai kra-rook:

412 *prɔɔk squirrel.A: (Bahnaric, Khmuic, Palaungic, Viet-Mương, North & Central Aslian). Sre
pro (→ Stieng prɔh?),
Chrauprɔːʔ, Biat, Bahnar prɔːk, Jeh proːk (GRADIN & GRADIN 1979), Kammu-Yuan prɔːk,
Palaung [ə]prɔʔ(MILNE 1931),
Vietnamese [con] sóc, Sakai prōkn (i.e. Semai; SKEAT & BLAGDEN 1906 M 136 (c)); →Lao,
Ahom *rook (BENEDICT 1975 226, bat…);
Cham, Jarai prɔːʔ, Röglai proʔ, North Röglai proːʔ.Cf. Khmer kɔmprok, apparently < *koːn
prɔːk, for which
cf. Vietnamese; → Thai krarɔ̂ɔk (with kr- by hypercorrection) at early stage.
http://sealang.net/monkhmer/sidwell2007proto.pdf

See:
Validation of metalwork catalogues using select Indus Script inscriptions, sign design and
positional analysis of signs by Sundar Ganesan et al (2009) https://tinyurl.com/ycyrg5yp

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