History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.467

v5.c71.s1.467

Some interesting sidelights are thrown on the prices of milch cows, cows and bulls by the medieval writers The Pr. V. (p 199) states that the price of a milch cow (*payasvinī*) was 3 purāṇas, that of an ordinary cow (*go*) one purāṇa and that of a bull was five purāṇas. The Pr. T. (pp. 517-18) quotes Kātyāyana to the effect that the price of a cow (*go*) is 32 paṇas and that of a male calf one purāṇa, that a *paṇa* is copper weighing 80 *raktikās* or equal to 80 *varāṭakas* (*cowries*), that 16 paṇas were equal to one purāṇa (following Bhaviṣya and Matsya purāṇas), that by niṣka is not meant the one indicated by Manu (VIII. 137) but a dīnāraniṣka i. e gold weighing 32 raktikās. The Prāyaścittenduśekhara p. 7 follows Yāj I 365 and holds that niṣka is silver equal (in weight) to four *suvarṇas* or a *pala*. A raktikā weighs on an average 1·8 grains; so a copper paṇa of 80 raktikās would weigh about 144 grains. Therefore a *dhenu* was equal to 32 paṇas (or two purāṇas) i. e. about 26 *tolas* of copper (one *tola* being taken as equal to 180 grains). Vide H of Dh. vol. III pp. 120-121 notes 161 and 162 for information about ancient coins and their weights. There appears to be owing to lapse of centuries some difference in the views of several writers According to Vijñāneśvara four *suvarṇas* are equal to a silver niṣka According to the Līlāvatī 20 varāṭakas are equal to a kākinī, 4 kākinīs are equal to a paṇa and a niṣka is equal to 256 paṇas.