This monograph reconstructs two ancient Meluhha (Indian sprachbund, 'language union') expressions which signify wealth-accounting for a nation by merchant-/artisan-guilds of Sarasvati Civilization. Cognates of the word khār has two meanings: 1. blacksmith; 2. खर-अंशुः the sun. अंशुः is a synonym of Soma and is cognate with ancu.'iron' (Tocharian). The processing of Soma or अंशुः is the central, sacred metaphor of R̥gveda. 
m1656 Pectoral. Gold Pendant. Harappa. National Museum, New Delhi

Sun's rays arka 'sun, rays of sun' rebus: arka 'copper, gold' eraka 'moltencast'. 
Orthography of the young bull clearly shows sun’s rays on the belly of the bovine.

अंशु m. a filament (especially of the सोम plant); a kind of सोम libation (शतपथ-ब्राह्मण); a ray , sunbeam; end of a thread , a minute particle; a point, end (Monier-Williams); aṃśuḥ अंशुः [अंश्-मृग˚ कु.] 1 A ray, beam of light; चण्ड˚, घर्मं˚ hot-rayed the sun; सूर्यांशुभिर्भिन्नमिवारविन्दम् Ku.1.32; Iustre, brilliance चण्डांशुकिरणाभाश्च हाराः Rām.5.9.48; Śi.1.9. रत्न˚, नख˚ &c. -2 A point or end. -3 A small or minute particle. - 4 End of a thread. -5 A filament, especially of the Soma plant (Ved.) -6 Garment; decoration. -7 N. of a sage or of a prince. -8 Speed, velocity (वेग). -9 Fine thread -Comp. -उदकम् dew-water. -जालम् a collection of rays, a blaze or halo of light. -धरः -पतिः -भृत्-बाणः -भर्तृ-स्वामिन् the sun, (bearer or lord of rays). -पट्टम् a kind of silken cloth (अंशुना सूक्ष्मसूत्रेणयुक्तं पट्टम्); सश्रीफलैरंशुपट्टम् Y. 1.186; श्रीफलैरंशुपट्टानां Ms.5.12. -माला a garland of light, halo. -मालिन् m. [अंशवो मालेव, ततः अस्त्यर्थे इनि] 1 the sun (wreathed with, surrounded by, rays). -2 the number twelve. -हस्तः [अंशुः हस्त इव यस्य] the sun (who draws up water from the earth by means of his 1 hands in the form of rays)(Apte).

अंशुः, पुं, (अंशयति इति अंश विभाजने । मृग-ष्वादित्वात् कुः ।) किरणः ॥ प्रभा ॥ इति मेदि-नी ॥ वेशः ॥ इति धरणी ॥ सूत्रादिसूक्ष्मांशः ।इति हेमचन्द्रः ॥ लेशः ॥ सूर्य्यः ॥ इति विश्वः ॥(ऋषिविशेषः । लतावयवः । सोमलतावयवः ।भागः ।) https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/शब्दकल्पद्रुमः

अंशु पु० अंश--मृग० कु । किरणे सूत्रे सूक्ष्मांशे प्रकाशेप्रभायां वेगे च “अंशवोऽत्र पतिता रवेः किमु”? इत्युद्भटः“सूर्य्यांशुभिर्भिन्नमिवारविन्दमिति” कुमा० । तत्र स्वपर-प्रकाशकस्य तेजःपदार्थस्य समन्तात् प्रसृतः स्पर्शयोग्यःकिञ्चिन्निविडः सूक्ष्मांशविशेषः किरणः, स च प्रायशःसूर्य्यस्य, तस्य तेजसा प्रदीप्तचन्द्रादेश्च । तदपेक्षया अल्प-स्थानप्रसारी किञ्चिद्विरलः स्पर्शायोग्यः तेजःसूक्ष्मांशःप्रभा, सा च रत्नादिवस्तुनः । चन्द्रादेस्तु अन्यापेक्षयाऽधिक-प्रसृतत्वात् किरणसम्भवः अतएव तत्र शीतांशुः सितकिरणइत्यादिप्रयोगः । स्पर्शयोग्यः तेजःपदार्थस्य किरणादपिनिविडः सूक्ष्मांशः आतपः, किरणापेक्षया अतिविरल-प्रसारी स्पर्शायोग्यः परप्रकाशसाधनमतिसूक्ष्मांशविशेषःआलोकः । प्रभायाम् आलोके वा न र्शोऽनुभूयते ।तत्र अंशुशब्दस्य किरणवाचित्वे सहस्रांशुः उष्णांशुःशीतांशुरित्यादयः । प्रभापरत्वे रत्नांशुः नखांशुरित्या-दयः । अजस्रमाश्रावितवल्लकीगुणक्षतोज्ज्वलाङ्गुष्ठनखांशु-भिन्नयेति” “द्विजावलीबालनिशाकरांशुभिरिति” चमाघः । सूत्रांशपरत्वे अंशुकं पट्टांशुकं चीना-शुकमित्यादयः । प्रकाशपरत्वे उपांशु उपहृतप्रकाश-त्वाच्चास्य गुप्तत्वं प्रतीयते तच्चार्थिकम् । सूक्ष्मविभागपरत्वेप्रांशुः प्रोन्नतावयवत्वा च्चास्य दीर्घत्वं प्रतीयते तच्चा-र्थिकम् इति । https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/वाचस्पत्यम्

This is an addendum to:
1. Uniquely ligatured ficus hieroglyph signifies lohakāra 'coppersmith, ironsmith' (Pali) lohakaraṇika 'metal engraver' https://tinyurl.com/y3sdsz7g 

2. Citragupta, accountant, kāyastha 'merchant-guilds' on sculptues signify Indus Script hypertexts, signifiers of wealth-accounting https://tinyurl.com/y3dwju97

Sign 327V326 (Orthographic variants of Sign 326) V327 (Orthographic variants of Sign 327) loa = a species of fig tree, ficus glomerata, the fruit of ficus glomerata(Santali) 

Vikalpa: kamaṛkom ‘ficus’ (Santali); rebus: kampaṭṭam ‘mint’ (Ta.) patra ‘leaf’ (Skt.); rebus: paṭṭarai ‘workshop’ (Ta.) Rebus: lo ‘iron’ (Assamese, Bengali); loa ‘iron’ (Gypsy) lauha = made of copper or iron (Gr.S'r.); metal, iron (Skt.); lohakāra = coppersmith, ironsmith (Pali); lohāra = blacksmith (Pt.); lohal.a (Or.); loha = metal, esp. copper or bronze (Pali); copper (VS.); loho, lo_ = metal, ore, iron (Si.) loha luṭi = iron utensils and implements (Santali)

Analogous to the reading of the expression of Sign 327 as

lohakaraṇika 'metal engraver', it is possible to interpret the most frequently used Indus Script expression as khār karṇī kharaḍā 'blacksmith, supercargo, engraver,daybook (of metalwork)'. 

Etymology of Khar from Sanskrit "Svar", meaning Sun, which changes in northwestern Indian languages to "Khar". खर  khara खर a. [opp. मृदु, श्लक्ष्ण, द्रव) 1 

Hard, rough, solid-Comp. खर-अंशुः, -करः, -रश्मिः the sun (Apte). खर--मयूख = खरा* ंशु "hot-rayed" , the sun (धूर्तनर्तक)(Monier-Williams)

 Sign 48 and variants One reading is barado 'spine' rebus: bharata 'alloy metal oc copper, pewter, tin'. It also signifies khār खार् 'spine'.  کار کنده kār-kunda ' 'manager, director, adroit, clever, experienced' (Pashto)  kuṇḍa n. ʻ clump ʼ e.g. darbha-- kuṇḍa-- Pāṇ.(CDIAL 3236). kundār turner (A.)(CDIAL 3295). : kundār turner (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) Vikalpa: kūdī, kūṭī 'bunch of twigs' (Skt.) Rebus: kuṭhi ‘smelter furnace’ (Santali) kō̃da कोँद । कुलालादिकन्दुः f. a kiln; a potter's kiln; blacksmith and engraver-lapidary setting or infixing gems. (Kashmiri) kundana ‘fine gold’ (Kannada). कुन्द [p= 291,2] one of कुबेर's nine treasures (N. of a गुह्यक Gal. ) L. کار کند kār-kund (corrup. of P کار کن) adj. Adroit, clever, experienced. 2. A director, a manager; (Fem.) کار کنده kār-kundaʿh.  (Pashto)    P کار kār, s.m. (2nd) Business, action, affair, work, labor, profession, operation. Pl. کارونه kārūnah. (E.) کار آرموده .چار kār āzmūdah. adj. Experienced, practised, veteran. کار و بار kār-o-bār, s.m. (2nd) Business, affair. Pl. کار و بارونه kār-o-bārūnah. کار خانه kār- ḵẖānaʿh, s.f. (3rd) A manufactory, a dock- yard, an arsenal, a workshop. Pl. يْ ey. کاردیده kār-dīdah, adj. Experienced, tried, veteran. کار روائي kār-rawā-ī, s.f. (3rd) Carrying on a business, management, performance. Pl. ئِي aʿī. کار زار kār-zār, s.m. (2nd) Battle, conflict. Pl. کار زارونه kār-zārūnah. کار ساز kār-sāz, adj. Adroit, clever; (Fem.) کار سازه kār-sāzaʿh. کار ساري kār-sāzī, s.f. (3rd) Cleverness, adroitness. Pl. ئِي aʿī. کار کند kār-kund (corrup. of P کار کن) adj. Adroit, clever, experienced. 2. A director, a manager; (Fem.) کار کنده kār-kundaʿh. کار کول kār kawul, verb trans. To work, to labor, to trade. په کار راتلل pah kār rā-tʿlal or راغلل rāg̠ẖ-lal, verb intrans. To be fit, to come into use, to be of use, to be proper or useful. په کار راوړل pah kār rā-wʿṟṟal, verb trans. To bring to use, to make use of, to expend. په کار دي pah kār daey, It is useful. په کار نه دي pah kār nah daey, It is useless. P کارستان kār-istān, s.m. (2nd) A place of work, a manufactory, an arsenal. Pl. کارستانونه kār-istānūnah.(Pashto) Khar or Khor is the Persian word Khordad, which means "Given by Sun". The Skt. expressions  ˚सूदनः the sun. -मणिः the sun. -मध्यम् the central point of the sky, the zenith are cognate with khar 'sun'. खर m. a quadrangular mound of earth for receiving the sacrificial vessels (शतपथ-ब्राह्मण v , 1 , 2 , 15); (?) m. xiv (आश्वलायन-श्रौत-सूत्र, कात्यायन-श्रौत-सूत्र)

Hieroglyph: G. khũṭṛɔ m. ʻ entire bull used for agriculture but not for breeding ʼ, (Kathiawar) khũṭ m. ʻ Brahmani bull ʼ.(CDIAL 3899) Rebus: कारकुन   kārakuna m ( P A factor, agent, or business-man.) A clerk, scribe, writer. सवा हात लेखणीचा का0 A term of ironical commendation for a clerk.

https://tinyurl.com/y9ug5h9y

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, šē̃ṣṭrĭ̄' 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'

https://tinyurl.com/ycgtthuz

The most frequently used Indus Script hypertext expression in Indus Script corpora consists of three unique hieroglyph: 1. khār 'backbone'; 2. karṇaka, 'rim-of-jar' 3. kharaḍā, 'currycomb'. 

This triplet of hieroglyphs in Indus Script hypertext signifies wealth-accounting ledger of blacksmith's metalwork products: 

1. khār  खार् 'blacksmith', 

2. karṇī, scribe/supercargo (a representative of the ship's owner on board a merchant ship, responsible for overseeing the cargo and its sale), [Note: kul-- karṇī m. ʻ village accountant ʼ(Marathi)]

3. (scribed in) karaḍā खरडें 'daybook, wealth-accounting ledger of khār  खार् 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)

खरडा  kharaḍā m (खरडणें) Scrapings (as from a culinary utensil). 2 Bruised or coarsely broken peppercorns &c.: a mass of bruised मेथ्या &c. 3 also खरडें n A scrawl; a memorandum-scrap; a foul, blotted, interlined piece of writing. 4 also खरडें n A rude sketch; a rough draught; a foul copy; a waste-book; a day-book; a note-book. (Marathi) See: karuma sharpness of sword (Tamil)(DEDR 1265) karumā, 'blaksmith' (Tamil);karmāra 'blacksmith' (R̥gveda)

At the outset, it should be noted that many of these Indus Script expressions are unique to Harappa where tablets (inclduing sealings as tablets) are used to record works in process for subsequent compilation of shipment info. of metalwork catalogues on seals. 

Decipherment of variants of the most-frequently used expression (shown on venn diagram) relate to yields from three types of furnaces: 1. smithy, 2. cast metal, 3. implements. The outputs from the furnaces are meant for 1. supercargo (consignments to be shipped by seafaring merchants, helmsmen) and 2. for further work by kharādī turners and for entry in daybook of the scribe: karaḍā खरडें 'daybook, wealth-accounting ledger'.

Seal published by Omananda Saraswati. In Pl. 275: Omananda Saraswati 1975. Ancient Seals of Haryana (in Hindi). Rohtak.

This pictorial motif gets normalized in Indus writing system as a hieroglyph sign.

Harappa. Prism tablet. H94-2177/4999-01: Molded faience tablet, Period 3B/3C. Rebus reading:

Two 'ingot' hieroglyphs: dul ḍ̠aḇ 'cast ingot'

'Backbone' hieroglyph:karaṁḍa ʻbackboneʼ Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy'

'crocodile' hieroglyph: kāru 'crocodile' (Telugu) Rebus: kāruvu 'artisan' (Telugu) khār 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)

'two' hieroglyph + 'rimless pot' hieroglyph: dula 'two' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' + baTa 'rimless pot' Rebus: baTa 'furnace'. Thus metal-casting furnace.

Rebus reading of incised Kalibangan potsherd: ayo 'fish' Rebus: aya 'iron, metal' PLUS karaṁḍa ʻbackboneʼ Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' PLUS kanka, karṇaka ‘rim of jar’ Rebus: karṇaka ‘accountscribe’. 

 kārṇī  m. ʻsuper cargo of a ship ʼ(Marathi) 

Incised potsherd from Kalibangan. The overriding of the signs shows that the direction of writing was from right to left.

Map showing Khao Sam Kaeo on the east coast and the complex of Phu Khao Thong/Bang Kluai Nok on the west coast [Drawing by the Thai-French archaeological mission].in: "The development of coastal polities in the Upper Thai-Malay Peninsula" by Berenice Bellina et al (2014) in:  Before Siam: Essays in Art and Archaeology. (pp. 69-89). River Books http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1456831/  Mirror: 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263620585_The_Development_of_Coastal_Polities_in_the_Upper_Thai-Malay_Peninsula_in_the_Late_First_Millennium_BCE 

https://www.academia.edu/5625561/The_Development_of_Coastal_Polities_in_the_Upper_Thai-Malay_Peninsula

Apart from etched beads which echo Sarasvati Civilization lapidary work, there are 1) ornaments found in Khao Sam Kaeo which signify Indus Script hieroglyphs and 2) potsherd with Indus Script epigraph found in Phu Khao Thong. Indus Script hieroglyphs on the Khao Sam Kaeo ornaments are:

Source: Dr. Berenice Bellina of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France, excavations conducted by the Thai Fine Arts at Phu Khao Thong in Thailand in 2007.

The Phu Khao Thong potsherd inscription has hieroglyphs which read rebus: karaṇḍa'backbone' rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' PLUS mũhe 'ingot' (Santali) mũhã̄ = the quantity of iron produced at one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes; iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end. Thus the inscription reads: karaḍa mũhe 'hard metal alloy ingot'.

Slide 33. Early Harappan zebu figurine with incised spots from Harappa.

Decipherment of the Harappa figurine on Slide 33:
 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)
The figurine signifies ingots of  पोळ [pōḷa], ‘magnetite’. This is a metalwork catalogue message in Indus Script Corpora.

 

Hieroglyph: sãgaḍ, 'lathe'  Rebus: sãgaṛh , 'fortification' Rebus: jangad 'invoicing on approval basis'

Hieroglyph: kõdā 'young bull calf' Rebus: kõdā 'turner-joiner' (forge);kundana 'fine gold'

eraka 'nave of wheel' Rebus: eraka 'molten cast, copper' arā 'spokes' rebus: āra 'brass'

sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'

karaṇḍa 'backbone' rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' 

aḍar 'harrow' Rebus: aduru 'native metal'

bhaṭa 'warrior' Rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace'

karṇaka, 'rim of jar' Rebus: karṇī 'supercargo, scribe'.

This high-frequency of the expression is highlighted by the venn diagram presented by Nisha Yadav using a limited set of 235 Harappa tablets from the Corpora (Mahadevan concordance):

Yadav, Nisha, 2013, Sensitivity of Indus Script to type of object, SCRIPTA, Vol. 5 (Sept. 2013), pp. 67-103

From r. to l.:

1. Hieroglyph: khāra 2 खार 'backbone, spine' rebus: khār  खार् । 'blacksmith'

2. Hieroglyph: karṇīka, kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: kaṇḍa kanka 'smelting furnace account (scribe), karṇī, supercargo' 

3. khareḍo 'a currycomb (Gujarati) Rebus: karaḍā खरडें 'daybook, wealth-accounting ledger'. Rebus: kharādī ' turner' (Gujarati)

Thus, the Indus Script hypertext signifies: 1. blacksmith, 2. supercargo (a representative of the ship's owner on board a merchant ship, responsible for overseeing the cargo and its sale.), 3. wealth-accounting ledger 

Onager shown on Standard of Ur (2600 BCE) is also shown on Indus Script inscriptions. An example is the seal from Mohenjo-daro (m290)(ca. 2500 BCE) which is a documentation of metalwork wealth by smelters' guild.

DETAIL FROM THE PANEL ON THE BULL-HEADED LYRE showing an 8-stringed bovine lyre being played. At the top of the lyre, braided material is wrapped around the crossbar under the tuning sticks. The small fox-like animal facing the front of the lyre holds a sistrum, or rattle. UPM 817694. Detail of neg. 735-110

The Indus Script hypertext message of the narrative on the Ur lyre: pōḷa, 'zebu' rebus: pōḷa 'magnetite, ferrite ore' PLUS khōṇḍa 'young bull' rebus: kundaṇa 'fine gold' PLUS kolhā, 'jackal' rebus: kolhe 'iron smelter' PLUS tambur 'harp' rebus: tambra 'copper' PLUS khara 'onager' rebus:  khār खार् 'blacksmith'. 

Rebus: karaḍā खरडें 'daybook, wealth-accounting ledger'. Thus, the message is: daybook (wealth-accounting ledger) of blacksmith working with iron smelter, copper, gold, magnetite ore.

Hieroglyph: पोळ pōḷa, 'Zebu, bos indicus'  Rebus: पोळ pōḷa, 'magnetite, ferrite ore' खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. Rebus: kõdā 'to turn in a lathe' (B.) कोंद kōnda. 'engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems' (Marathi) कोंडण [kōṇḍaṇa] f A fold or pen. khōṇḍī 'pannier sack'खोंडी (Marathi) Rebus: kunda 'nidhi' kundaṇa 'fine gold' PLUS koḍ 'horn' rebus: koḍ 'workshop'.

Hieroglyph: jackal: kolhā: krōṣṭŕ̊ ʻ crying ʼ BhP., m. ʻ jackal ʼ RV. = krṓṣṭu -- m. Pāṇ. [√kruś]Pa. koṭṭhu -- , °uka -- and kotthu -- , °uka -- m. ʻ jackal ʼ, Pk. koṭṭhu -- m.; Si. koṭa ʻ jackal ʼ, koṭiya ʻ leopard ʼ GS 42; -- Pk. kolhuya -- , kulha -- m. ʻ jackal ʼ < *kōḍhu -- ; H. kolhā, °lā m. ʻ jackal ʼ, adj. ʻ crafty ʼ; G. kohlũ, °lũ n. ʻ jackal ʼ, M. kolhā, °lā m.(CDIAL 3615) Rebus: kol 'working in iron'; kolle 'blacksmith'; kolhe 'smelter'

Hieroglyph: tambura 'harp/lyre' rebus: tambra 'copper'

Hieroglyph: khara1 m. ʻ donkey ʼ KātyŚr., °rī -- f. Pāṇ.NiDoc. Pk. khara -- m., Gy. pal. ḳăr m., kắri f., arm. xari, eur. gr. kher, kfer, rum. xerú, Kt. kur, Pr. korūˊ, Dm. khar m., °ri f., Tir. kh*lr, Paš. lauṛ. khar m., khär f., Kal. urt. khār, Phal. khār m., khári f., K. khar m., khürüf., pog. kash. ḍoḍ. khar, S. kharu m., P. G. M. khar m., OM. khari f.; -- ext. Ash. kərəṭék, Shum. xareṭá; <-> L. kharkā m., °kī f. -- Kho. khairánu ʻ donkey's foal ʼ (+?).*kharapāla -- ; -- *kharabhaka -- . Addenda: khara -- 1: Bshk. Kt. kur ʻ donkey ʼ (for loss of aspiration Morgenstierne ID 334).(CDIAL 3818) Rebus: khār खार् । 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)

Rebus: karaḍā खरडें 'daybook, wealth-accounting ledger'.

Thus, the symbolic ensemble is a documentation of metalwork in Indus Script Cipher.

m290 Mohenjo-daro seal. Decipherment: kola 'tiger' Rebus; kolle 'blacksmith' kol 'working in iron' kole.l 'smithy, temple' kolimi 'smithy, forge' PLUS pattar 'trough' Rebus: pattar 'guild of goldsmiths'. panja 'feline paw' rebus: panja 'kiln, furnace'

ṭāṅka ʻleg, thighʼ (Oriya) rebus:  ṭaṅka 'mint'

khar 'ass, onager' (Kashmiri) rebus: khār खार् 'blacksmith' khāra-- basta f. ʻ blacksmith's skin bellows ʼ (Kashmiri)(CDIAL 9424)

kharkhara  खर््खर । अश्वादिकण्डूयनयन्त्रम् m. a curry-comb (K.Pr. 15). -- karun -- करुन् । अश्वादिकण्डूयनकरणम् m.inf. to use a curry-comb, to curry (a horse), to groom (a horse).(Kashmiri) kharedo = a currycomb (Gujarati) rebus: kharādī ‘ turner’ (Gujarati) Rebus: daybook: karaḍā m The arrangement of bars or embossed lines (plain or fretted with little knobs) raised upon a तार of gold by pressing and driving it upon the ... 4 also खरडें n A rude sketch; a rough draught; a foul copy; a waste-book; a day-book; a note-book (Marathi) khār  खार् 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)

Hieroglyph: khāra 2 खार (= ) or khār 4 खार् (L.V. 96, K.Pr. 47, Śiv. 827) । द्वेषः m. (for 1, see khār 1 ), a thorn, prickle, spine (K.Pr. 47; Śiv. 827, 153)(Kashmiri) Pk. karaṁḍa -- m.n. ʻ bone shaped like a bamboo ʼ, karaṁḍuya -- n. 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. 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.(CDIAL 2670) కరాళము karāḷamu karāḷamu. [Skt.] n. The backbone. వెన్నెముక (Telugu)

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-बस््त । चर्मप्रसेविका f. the skin bellows of a blacksmith. -büṭhü -ब&above;ठू&below; । लोहकारभित्तिः f. the wall of a blacksmith's furnace or hearth. -bāy-बाय् । लोहकारपत्नी f. a blacksmith's wife (Gr.Gr. 34). -dŏkuru । लोहकारायोघनः m. a blacksmith's hammer, a sledge-hammer.; । लोहकारचुल्लिः f. a blacksmith's furnace or hearth. -hāl -हाल् । लोहकारकन्दुः f. , a blacksmith's smelting furnace; cf. hāl  । लोहकारकन्या f. a blacksmith's daughter. । लोहकारपुत्रः m. the son of a blacksmith, esp. a skilful son, who can work at the same profession. । 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; । लोहकारमृत्तिका f. (for 2, see [khāra 3] ), 'blacksmith's earth,' i.e. iron-ore.; । लोहकारात्मजः m. a blacksmith's son. -nay -नय् । लोहकारनालिका f. (for khāranay 2, see [khārun] ), the trough into which the blacksmith allows melted iron to flow after smelting. -ʦañĕ -च्&dotbelow;ञ । लोहकारशान्ताङ्गाराः f.pl. charcoal used by blacksmiths in their furnaces. -wān वान् । लोहकारापणः m. a blacksmith's shop, a forge, smithy (K.Pr. 3). -waṭh -वठ् । आघाताधारशिला m. (sg. dat. -waṭas -वटि), the large stone used by a blacksmith as an anvil. (Kashmiri)Rebus: khara 'sharp-edged' Kannada); pure, unalloyed (Kashmiri) khára2 ʻ hard, sharp, pungent ʼ MBh., ʻ solid ʼ Pān., ʻ hot (of wind) ʼ Suśr. [Cf. karkara -- 1, karkaśá -- , kakkhaṭa -- ]Pa. Pk. khara -- ʻ hard, rough, cruel, sharp ʼ; K. khoru ʻ pure, genuine ʼ, S. kharo, L. P. kharā (P. also ʻ good of weather ʼ); WPah. bhad. kharo ʻ good ʼ, paṅ. cur. cam. kharā ʻ good, clean ʼ; Ku. kharo ʻ honest ʼ; N. kharo ʻ real, keen ʼ; A. khar ʻ quick, nimble ʼ, m. ʻ dry weather ʼ, kharā ʻ dry, infertile ʼ, khariba ʻ to become dry ʼ; B. kharā ʻ hot, dry ʼ, vb. ʻ to overparch ʼ; Or. kharā ʻ sunshine ʼ; OAw. khara ʻ sharp, notched ʼ; H. kharā ʻ sharp, pure, good ʼ; G. khar ʻ sharp, hot ʼ, °rũ ʻ real, good, well parched or baked, well learnt ʼ; M. khar ʻ sharp, biting, thick (of consistency) ʼ, °rā ʻ pure, good, firm ʼ; Ko. kharo ʻ true ʼ; Si. kara -- räs ʻ hot -- rayed, i.e. sun ʼ. -- Ext. Pk. kharaḍia -- ʻ rough ʼ; Or. kharaṛā ʻ slightly parched ʼ. <-> X kṣārá -- 1: Or. khārā ʻ very sharp, pure, true ʼ. <-> X paruṣá -- 1: Bshk. khärúṣ ʻ rough, rugged ʼ; Si. karahu ʻ hard ʼ.
kharapattrā -- , kharayaṣṭikā -- , *kharasrōtas -- .Addenda: khara -- 2: WPah.kṭg. (kc.) khɔ́rɔ ʻ great, good, excessive ʼ; J. kharā ʻ good, well ʼ; OMarw. kharaü ʻ extreme ʼ.(CDIAL 3819)

Rebus: karaḍā खरडें 'daybook, wealth-accounting ledger'.

Rebus: 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; karukkuteeth of a saw or 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; garime severity, 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)

See: 

235 Harappa Indus Script tablets deciphered: भरत 'alloy of pewter, copper, tin' ready as supercargo & for turners, from 1. smithy, 2. cast metal, 3. implements furnaces (workshops) http://tinyurl.com/h45ex2j 

The venn diagram shows the associate expressions of hypertexts:

baTa 'rimless pot' rebus: baṭa 'iron' bhaṭa 'furnace' PLUS dula 'two' rebus: dul 'cast metal' Thus, cast metal furnace (Frequency of occurrence: 74)

baṭa 'rimless pot' rebus: baṭa 'iron' bhaṭa 'furnace'  PLUS kolmo 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy'. Thus smithy furnace (Frequency of occurrence: 111)

baṭa 'rimless pot' rebus: baṭa 'iron' bhaṭa 'furnace' PLUS gaNDa 'four' rebus: khaNDa 'implements'. Thus implements furnace (Frequency of occurrence: 50)

Faience tablet (H2001-5082/2920-02) made from two colors of faience was found eroding from the Trench 54 South workshop area. Identical tablets made from two colors of faience were recovered in Area J, at the south end of Mound AB, in the excavations of Vats during the 1930s. gaNDa 'four' rebus: khaNDa 'implements' baṭa 'rimless pot' rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace' PLUS ayo 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal'.

Pict-90 Text 4305

4305 Pict-90: Standing person with horns and bovine features holding a staff or mace on his shoulder.  

Hieroglyph: ḍhangar 'bull' Rebus: dhangar 'blacksmith' (Maithili) damgar, tamkāru 'merchant' (Akkadian). 

bhaṭa 'warrior' Rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace' sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop' PLUS karṇīka, kanka 'rim of jar' rebus: kaṇḍa kanka 'smelting furnace account (scribe), karṇī, supercargo' Thus, the three-sided Harappa tablet signifies blacksmith, merchant, supercargo (handling products from) furnace workshop.

Stone seal. h179. National Museum, India. Carved seal. Scan 27418 Tongues of flame decorate the flaming pillar, further signified by two 'star' hieroglyphs on either side of the bottom of the flaming arch.

Front

khār 'blacksmith' emerges out of the tree or flaming pillar (skambha) identified by the 'star' hieroglyph'. The wristlets he wears and headdress signify that he is khār working with kuṭhi 'tree' Rebus: kuṭhi 'smelting furnace'. He is a smith engaged in smelting.

Hieroglyph:मेढा [ mēḍhā ] 'polar star' Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Santali.Mu.Ho.) dula'two' rebus: dul 'metal casting' Thus, signifying a cast iron smelter.
Santali glosses.

Hieroglyph: karã̄ n. pl. wristlets, bangles' rebus: khār 'blacksmith'
Hieroglyph: head-dress:  kūdī, kūṭī bunch of twigs (Sanskrit)  kuṭhi 'tree' Rebus: kuṭhi 'smelting furnace' (Santali) (Phonetic determinative of skambha, 'flaming pillar', rebus:kammaTa 'mint, coiner, coinage'). Skambha, flamiung pillar is the enquiry in Atharva veda Skambha Sukta (AV X.7,8)

Huntington Archive Scan 27419. 

Location: Mohenjo Daro, Larkana Dt., Sind, Pakistan Site: Mohenjo Daro Monument/Object: seal, relief sculpture Current Location: National Museum, New Delhi, India Subject: figure, in ceremonial headdress, in tree or flaming pillar Photo Depicts: reverse Period: Harappa/Indus Civilization (Pakistan)

Reverse Text message: 

Hieroglyphs: backbone + four short strokes  

Signs 47, 48: Four ribs of backbone: gaṇḍa ‘four’ Rebus: kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar’.  Pk. karaṁḍa -- m.n. ʻbone shaped like a bambooʼ, karaṁḍuya -- n. ʻ backbone ʼ.( (CDIAL 2670) rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy'. Alternative: baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus: baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) + rebus: bharat kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar’, furnace for mixed alloy called bharat(copper, zinc, tin alloy).

bhāthī m. ʻ warrior ʼ bhaṭa 'warrior' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace', thus reinforcing the smelting process in the fire-altars. Smelters might have used bhaThi 'bellows'. bhástrā f. ʻ leathern bag ʼ ŚBr., ʻ bellows ʼ Kāv., bhastrikā -- f. ʻ little bag ʼ Daś. [Despite EWA ii 489, not from a √bhas ʻ blow ʼ (existence of which is very doubtful). -- Basic meaning is ʻ skin bag ʼ (cf. bakura<-> ʻ bellows ʼ ~ bākurá -- dŕ̊ti -- ʻ goat's skin ʼ), der. from bastá -- m. ʻ goat ʼ RV. (cf.bastājina -- n. ʻ goat's skin ʼ MaitrS. = bāstaṁ carma Mn.); with bh -- (and unexpl. -- st -- ) in Pa. bhasta -- m. ʻ goat ʼ, bhastacamma -- n. ʻ goat's skin ʼ. Phonet. Pa. and all NIA. (except S. with a) may be < *bhāsta -- , cf. bāsta -- above (J. C. W.)]With unexpl. retention of -- st -- : Pa. bhastā -- f. ʻ bellows ʼ (cf. vāta -- puṇṇa -- bhasta -- camma -- n. ʻ goat's skin full ofwind ʼ), biḷāra -- bhastā -- f. ʻ catskin bag ʼ, bhasta -- n. ʻ leather sack (for flour) ʼ; K. khāra -- basta f. ʻ blacksmith's skin bellows ʼ; -- S. bathī f. ʻ quiver ʼ (< *bhathī); A. Or. bhāti ʻ bellows ʼ, Bi. bhāthī, (S of Ganges) bhã̄thī; OAw. bhāthā̆ ʻ quiver ʼ; H. bhāthā m. ʻ quiver ʼ, bhāthī f. ʻ bellows ʼ; G. bhāthɔ,bhātɔ, bhāthṛɔ m. ʻ quiver ʼ (whence bhāthī m. ʻ warrior ʼ); M. bhātā m. ʻ leathern bag, bellows, quiver ʼ, bhātaḍ n. ʻ bellows, quiver ʼ; <-> (X bhráṣṭra -- ?) N. bhã̄ṭi ʻ bellows ʼ, H. bhāṭhī f.Addenda: bhástrā -- : OA. bhāthi ʻ bellows ʼ .(CDIAL 9424) bhráṣṭra n. ʻ frying pan, gridiron ʼ MaitrS. [√bhrajj]

Pk. bhaṭṭha -- m.n. ʻ gridiron ʼ; K. büṭhü f. ʻ level surface by kitchen fireplace on which vessels are put when taken off fire ʼ; S. baṭhu m. ʻ large pot in which grain is parched, large cooking fire ʼ, baṭhī f. ʻ distilling furnace ʼ; L. bhaṭṭh m. ʻ grain -- parcher's oven ʼ, bhaṭṭhī f. ʻ kiln, distillery ʼ, awāṇ. bhaṭh; P. bhaṭṭhm., °ṭhī f. ʻ furnace ʼ, bhaṭṭhā m. ʻ kiln ʼ; N. bhāṭi ʻ oven or vessel in which clothes are steamed for washing ʼ; A. bhaṭā ʻ brick -- or lime -- kiln ʼ; B. bhāṭi ʻ kiln ʼ; Or. bhāṭi ʻ brick -- kiln, distilling pot ʼ; Mth. bhaṭhī, bhaṭṭī ʻ brick -- kiln, furnace, still ʼ; Aw.lakh. bhāṭhā ʻ kiln ʼ; H. bhaṭṭhā m. ʻ kiln ʼ, bhaṭ f. ʻ kiln, oven, fireplace ʼ; M. bhaṭṭā m. ʻ pot of fire ʼ, bhaṭṭī f. ʻ forge ʼ. -- X bhástrā -- q.v.bhrāṣṭra -- ; *bhraṣṭrapūra -- , *bhraṣṭrāgāra -- .Addenda: bhráṣṭra -- : S.kcch. bhaṭṭhī keṇī ʻ distil (spirits) ʼ.*bhraṣṭrāgāra ʻ grain parching house ʼ. [bhráṣṭra -- , agāra -- ]P. bhaṭhiār, °ālā m. ʻ grainparcher's shop ʼ.(CDIAL 9656, 9658)

kanda kanka 'rim of jar' (Santali) Rebus: kanda kanka 'fire-trench account, karṇi supercargo' karṇīka 'helmsman, merchantman, scribe, account'. 

Copper tablet (H2000-4498/9889-01) with raised script found in Trench 43 of Harappa. The raised script has apparently been achieved during casting in a mould. Over 8 such tablets have been found in Harappa from circular platforms (which are clearly meant for artisans working in metal smithy/forge work).

Harappa tablets showing a pair of 'ingots' flanking 'backbone' hieroglyph

dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metal casting' PLUS hieroglyph: oval (lozenge) shape: 

mũhe 'ingot' (Santali) mũhã̄ = the quantity of iron produced at one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes; iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end; mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends;kolhe tehen mẽṛhẽt ko mūhā akata = the Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron (Santali). Thus, the message of the Indus Script hypertext with three hieroglyphs is: cast metal ingot of karaḍa 'hard alloy'. करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. (Marathi)  kharādī ' turner, a person who fashions or shapes objects on a lathe' (Gujarati)

Alternative reading of ingot: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati).

Persian gulf seal. mr̤eka, melh 'goat' rebus: milakkhu, mleccha-mukha 'copper' eraka 'raisedhand' rebus: eraka 'moltencast, copper'

karaḍū or ṅkaraḍēṃ ] n A kid. कराडूं (p. 137) [ karāḍūṃ ] n (Commonly करडूं ) A kid. (Marathi) Rebus: करडा (p. 137) [ karaḍā ] 'hard alloy' PLUS dula 'two' rebus: dul 'metal casting'. Thus copper metal casters.