Nishka
Nishka, “a gold measure”
Grammar: masculine and neuter noun: a measure of gold.
Meaning: a measure of weight for gold and other metals, equal to four suvarṇas.
In the scriptures: Pushkara, teaching Paraśurāma the use of daṇḍa-nīti (the science of just punishment) and the fines of the law, first gives the measures by which fines are counted. Three yavas (barley grains) make one kṛshṇala; five kṛshṇalas make one māsha; sixty kṛshṇalas make half a karsha; sixteen māshas make one suvarṇa; four suvarṇas make one nishka; and ten nishkas make one dharaṇa. These are the measures for weighing copper, silver and gold. One karsha of copper is named kārshika or kārshāpaṇa (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 227).
In the Bhavishya Purāṇa. In the fees of the Madhyama Parva the nishka is the svarṇamudrā (gold coin): the dedication of a well (kūpotsarga) is half a nishka, and the Tulasī-yāga and Āmalakī-yāga are one (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 3–5). It is also the measure of gold in the gift that closes the Śarkarā Saptamī: a horse made of one thousand, one hundred or five nishkas of gold, as one’s capacity allows (Uttara Parva, Chapter 49).
Related terms: Suvarṇa · Dharaṇa · Māsha · Kṛshṇala · Kārshāpaṇa
Sources
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 227
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 3–5; Uttara Parva, Chapter 49