Note 39 — RITUAL AND MORAL CONDUCT.[10]
W. A. (William Austin) Montriou translation
These tables of weight, as further explained by the Commentator, may be given thus:
3 Atoms = 1 Mote.
8 Motes = 1 Poppy seed or a nit.
3 Poppy seeds or 3 nits = 1 Black mustard seed.
3 Black mustard seeds = 1 White mustard seed.
3 White mustard seeds = 1 Barley corn.
3 Barley corns = 1 Krishṇala.
Gold.
5 Krishṇalas = 1 Másha.
16 Máshas = 1 Suvarṇa.
4 Suvarṇas = 1 Pala.
Silver.
2 Krishṇalas = 1 Másha.
16 Máshas = 1 Dharaṇa.
10 Dharaṇas = 1 Pala or Śatamána.
4 Suvarṇas = 1 Nishka.
Copper.
4 Karshas = 1 Pala.
1 Paṇa = 1 Karsha i. e. 1/4 Pala.
They by no means satisfactorily define the intrinsic weight and signification of the Paṇa, which, as the measure of pecuniary penalty, would seem to be the chief if not sole object of their introduction.
In the corresponding slokas of Manu, ten Palas are said to be equivalent to one Dharaṇa. We can only reconcile this by supposing Manu to refer to a gold Pala and Yájnavalkya to a silver Pala.