[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.rapson-1922) › v1.c19.s9.360 # The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c19.s9.360 The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c19.s9.360 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c19.s9.360](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.rapson-1922.v1.c19.s9.360) No definite rates of interest on money loans appear in the early books. But the term which appears in the law-books as ‘usury’ (\*vṛddhi\*, Pāli \*vaḍḍhi\*) is found. Meaning literally profit or increase, it may very early have acquired the more specialised import. There is a tolerant tone concerning the money-lender in a Jātaka tale, where a patron, in enabling a huntsman to better himself, names money-lending (\*iṇa-dāna\*), together with tillage, trade, and harvesting as four honest callings¹². Gautama is equally tolerant¹³. But the general tendency of this profession to evade any legal or customary rate of interest and become the type of profit-mongering finds condemnation in other law-books¹⁴. Hypocritical ascetics are accused of practising it¹⁵. No one but the money-lender seems to have lent capital wealth for interest as an investment. For instance, only bonds (\*paṇṇā\*) are spoken of in the case of the generous Anāthapiṇḍika's 'bad debts'¹. Capital wealth was hoarded, either in the house—in large mansions over the entrance passage (\*dvāra-koṭṭhaka\*)²—under the ground³, in brazen jars under the river bank⁴, or deposited with a friend⁵. The nature and amount of the wealth thus hoarded was registered on gold or copper plates⁶. - [Previous: v1.c19.s9.359](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.rapson-1922.v1.c19.s9.359) - [Next: v1.c19.s9.361](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.rapson-1922.v1.c19.s9.361) - [Up: v1.c19.s9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.rapson-1922.v1.c19.s9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.rapson-1922.v1.c19.s9.360](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.rapson-1922.v1.c19.s9.360) · Pramāṇa