Ganittilakam Savrtuttikam

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 62

INTRODUCTION
topic known as mis'ravyavahara, and has dealt with various problems on interest. Before we refer to some features about this topic, we may note that S'ripati has used three terms, viz., pramāņa (argument), abhipsā1 (requisition) and phala (fruit). Usually we find the word iccha used for abhipsă. Even Aryabhata II who has used mana and vinimaya for pramana (the first term) and phala (the second or middle term), has used the word iccha (the 3rd or the last term).
While dealing with the topic pertaining to interest S'ripati has used the terms mula (p. 83) and miladhana (p. 75) for 'principal' and kalāntara (p. 75) for 'interest'.
As regards problems on interest, it may be mentioned that even in the time of Panini, interest seems to have been charged on the money lent, and that different rates prevailed amongst different classes of people is borne out by Kautilya's Arthas'astra (R. Shamsastri's edn. III, ii, p. 214).
LXI
It will be interesting to trace the origin of different prob. lems given by Sripati, but I have to reserve that subject for future. I may however note that the problem given on p. 41 tallies with ex. 25 of Tris'ati of which the origin may be traced as far back as the Arthas'astra. Furthermore, the problem given on p. 70 (v. 89) is same as that given in Tris'ati, except that there is a variant vada for dhanam, and that the first problem given on p. 74 seems to have been adopted from Tris'ati (ex. 38, p. 17).
1 This word occurs on p. 68 in v. 86. Herein we also find its equivalent samiccha.
2 See Aryabhatiya, Brahmasphuṭasiddhanta (p. 178), Tris'ati (p. 15) and Ganitasarasangraha (p. 58). Cf. Datta and Singh, l. c., p. 204.
3 See Mahasiddhanta (p. 149).
4 See Aṣṭadhyayi (V. I. 22, 47 and 49).
5 Cf. Datta and Singh, l. c., p. 218.
6 I have come across two articles in this connection:
(i) "On the origin of certain typical problems" by Smith, published in "American Math. Monthly" vol. XXIV, No. 2, February 1917, p. 65.
(ii) "Typical problems of Hindu Mathematics" by Gurugovinda Chakra. barti M. A., B. Sc. published in "The Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute" vol. XIV, pts. 1-2 (Oct.-Jan., 1931-33,) pp. 87-102.
7 For its translation into English see Datta and Singh, l. c., p. 207. 8 For other details see pertinent foot-notes of Appendix I. 9 गणि०