India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c9.s6.t1.43

c9.s6.t1.43

Pāṇini refers to a wealthy man as *āḍhya* (III. 2. 56), corresponding to Pāli *aḍḍho*. The Jātakas also refer to *ibbhas* (Skt. *ibhya*) who appear to be of the same status as *aḍḍhas*. Wealth was indicated in terms of coined gold or silver, e.g. Pāṇini mentions *naishka-śatika*, one whose wealth amounted to 100 *nishkas* of gold, and *naishka-sahasrika*, to 1000 *nishkas* (V. 2. 119). Pāṇini also refers to persons possessing one hundred (*aika-śatika*) or one thousand (*aika-sahasrika*, V. 2. 118), evidently *kārshāpaṇas* of silver. The Jātakas refer to fabulous treasures of eighteen crores or fifty-four crores, as in the case of *seṭṭhi* Anāthapiṇḍaka.