Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 340

Sec. IV)
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÓTRÁ
315
It appears from the Bhs that the government took some measure in regard to the measures and weights used in business transaction.
The text gives some idea about the weights and measures of length, volume, figure and time in its scattered statements.
The incidental reference to the "Suvannamāsa and ruppamāsa" (gold and silver māsas) suggests that this system of weight was also used in the business transaction. One māsa denoted a weight, which was equal to five rattis for gold and two for silver", but it also signified the name of a coin.
Besides these, there is the mention of different kinds of measures, e.g. angulippamāṇa (length) having the size of a finger", Icukkuļi.amdagappamāņa (size of an egg of a hen)", sanakhapamāņa (quantity contained in a nail)", purusappamāṇakāla (i.e. a prahara, the length of shadow having the size of a man,', yojana (a measure of length of four krośas = 4.54 British miles), etc.
Currency
The references to earnest money (sātiejjā)", wealth (dhaņa)10, in the Bhs clearly imply that there was a regular system of currency which facilitated business transaction and regulated the whole economic condition of its period by issuing legal coins as the medium of exchange, for it is suggested by the mention of the word "Suvannakodio'll which denotes wealth in terms of gold coins.
Moreover, it has already been pointed out that the Māsa19 may denote the name of a coin of specific weight.
1 Bhs, 18, 10, 647. : Arthasastra, 18, 10, 647. 8 Panini, V.1, 34. Vide, 'India as known to Pāṇini', Ch. IV,
p. 259. 4 Bh8, 9, 33, 385.
6 Ib, 1, 11, 424 Ib, 15, 1, 543.
7.8 16, 11, 11, 424. (See comm.) 9 Ib, 5, 6, 205.
10 Ib, 3, 1, 134; 11, 9, 417. 11 I., 11, 11, 430.
19 16, 18, 10, 647
.