Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics (Carmichael Lectures, 1921) c9.15.3

c9.15.3

Unless the word can be shown to be occurring in the Pāli literature also, it may be contended and with some force, no doubt, that it could not have been current among the people in general. I will, therefore, cite one instance from this literature. There are two verses in the Pātimokkha which relate to monetary transactions. I will translate them here as follows: “(v. 18) If again a mendicant should receive jātarūpa or gold and rajata or silver, or get some one to receive it for him, or allow it to be put in deposit for him, it is a fault requiring restitution. (v. 19) If again a mendicant should engage in any transactions of coined money, it is a fault requiring restitution.” The expression with which we are chiefly concerned here is rūpiya-saṃvohāra, i.e. rūpya-saṃvyavahāra, which I have rendered by “transactions of rūpya or coined money.” This translation alone can be correct, for the monetary transactions referred to in the first of these verses are distinguished from those in the second, and if the former refer only to gold and silver bullion in the first verse, the word *rūpya* in the second verse cannot possibly mean ‘silver bullion’ again, but must denote ‘coined money’ whether of gold, silver or any other metal.