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187
Kautilya uses the word ':' in the 12th, 70th and 146th adhyayas but all the dastes are not enumerated. It is very interesting that the Ardhamāgadhi text Praśnavyākaraṇa presents a full list of F and a comment is passed that these people are seen active in violent acts.
'इमे य बहवे मिलक्खुजाई, के ते ? सग - जवण-सबर- बब्बर- - पुलिंदडोंब --- चीण-लासिय- -खस-खासिय- - हूण- - रोमग- - रुरु-मरुया चिलायविसयवासी य पावमइणो ।' (Praśnavyākarana 1.1, p. 23) (ब्यावर edn.)
[C] Festivals :
S
It is surprising that social festivals are not enumerated independantly in the Arthaśāstra. In the 80th adhyāya, eight unforeseen calamities are mentioned. Various pūjas, homa, bali and svastivācana are referred to for dispelling the calamities. Such pūjas are social 'devakāryas'. Certain deities are mentioned which are worth-worshipping viz. Nadī, Indra, Gangā, Parvata, Varuṇa, Samudra, Draha, Naga and Caityavṛkṣa.
The more vivid picture of festivals and pilgrimages is seen in the Ardhamāgadhi scriptures. The Jñātādharmakathā mentions अज्ज रायगिहे नयरे इंदमहे इ वा खंदमहे इ वा एवं रुद्द - सिव- वेसमण-न क्ख-भूय - नईई - तलाय - रुक्ख - चेइय - इ वा उज्जाण - ग- गिरिजत्ता इ वा ? (Jñātādharmakathā 1.1.96) (
-नाग
edn.)
In this passage, 'मह' is a festival and ' जत्ता' is ‘यात्रा' means a pilgrimage or jatrā which means 'a local fair'. Almost the same list is found in the Acārānga 2.10.2.3 and Bhagavati 9.33.158 (Ladnu
edn.)
After going through the lists carefully, one can realize that both the references almost point to the same strata and time of the society.
