Runasasti

Runasasti is a term used in the study of epigraphy to designate inscriptions that record debt, obligations, or contractual arrangements. The word is generally believed to derive from Sanskrit runa, meaning debt or obligation, and sasti or a related term referring to inscriptions, though etymological details and usage vary among scholars.

In practice, Runasasti inscriptions typically document loans and repayments, binding covenants, or attestations of financial obligations. They may appear alongside land grants or civic charters and can function as legal evidence within local administrative or commercial systems. The texts are often inscribed on stone, metal plates, or copper, and may include details such as parties to the agreement, terms of repayment, and dates.

Geographically and temporally, references to Runasasti occur in inscriptions from parts of South Asia, with datings ranging from late antiquity to the medieval period. The corpus is sparse and uneven, and examples are often fragmentary, which complicates interpretation.

Scholarly treatment of Runasasti varies. Some researchers use it as a broad label for inscriptions that deal with debt or contractual obligations, while others reserve the term for a narrower subset that explicitly documents debt instruments or repayment terms. Given the fragmentary evidence and inconsistent terminology, there is no universally agreed definition or corpus for Runasasti.

Significance lies in its potential to illuminate historical economic practices, credit networks, and legal language within communities. When approached cautiously, Runasasti contributes to understanding local governance, merchant activity, and patron–client dynamics in past societies.

See also: Epigraphy, Copper plate inscriptions, Sanskrit epigraphy, Inscriptions of South Asia.