India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c9.s6.t1.5

c9.s6.t1.5

(2) HALF-KĀRSHĀPAṆA (*Ardha* and *Bhāga*)—Pāṇini refers to *ardha* (V.1.48) as the name of a current coin. *Kāśikā* explains it as a half *kārshāpaṇa*. A small transaction involving a profit, income, tax, *etc.* of an *ardha* was called *ardhika*. The *Mahāsupina Jātaka* mentions *aḍḍha* and *pāda* as current coin names coming after *kārshāpaṇa* (*Kahāpaṇ-aḍḍha-pāda-māsa-rūpādīni*, *Jāt.* 1. 340). Kauṭilya refers to *ardhapaṇa* and Kātyāyana to *ardha* as a coin by itself (*Ṭiṭhan ardhāch-cha*, *Vārttika* on V. 1. 25); that which was purchased for an *ardha* was called *ardhika* or *ardhikī*.