Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c6.s2.52

c6.s2.52

TEXT BOOKS. From the frequent use of the expression ‘sippam vācesi,’ i.e., ‘causing to read the sippas, the arts, it seems clear that the students used to read books. And in the instance already cited, the reference to drowsiness preventing the students from understanding (lit. seeing-passanti) the subject already learnt, also indicate the use of books. We have also direct references to the existences of books (*potthakam*) ‘preserved with brilliant, coloured rappings, and read laying them upon a beautiful standish.’¹ Moreover, the repeated mention of the use of writing, both in private and official correspondence, leaves no doubt as to this.