Book Title: Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature
Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

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Page 203
________________ 193 The spies called vaidehaka and magadha are certainly related to their concerned regions (adhyāya 12). Kautilya says that Magadha, Paundra, Kāśī, Vatsa and Mālava are famous for cotton clothes (adhyaya 13) and Kalinga, Anga, Saurāṣṭra, Daśārṇa and Pañcanada (Punjab) are famous for elephants. These kingdoms and regions occur in the Ardhamāgadhī and old Jaina Māhārāṣṭrī texts for literally hundreds of times. Almost all traditional narratives of the Jainas start with the names of the janapadas mentioned above. [J] Miscellaneous cultural references in brief : i) All the details of gaṇikās are documented in the 48th adhyāya of Arthaśāstra. Gaṇikās and rūpājīvās (veśyās) are differenciated. Kautilya says that each ganika should note and declear her rate of service. The Jñātādharmakathā mentions that a particular gaṇikā was available at one thousand (golden coins) per day (Jñātādharmakathā 1.3.46). In the Jaina Māhārāṣṭrī narrative literature, the high social and cultural status of gaṇikās and veśyās is seen frequently. Their roles in the 'crime-world' are painted in the texts like Akkhyānamaṇikośa, Kumārapālapratibodha and Manoramākathā. ii) The 40th adhyāya of Arthaśāstra is dedicated to the 'weights and measurements'. The weights and measurements like māṣa, angula etc. frequently occur in the contemporary Jaina texts. One remarkable thing is, Kautilya suggests to use the standard weights which were prepared in Magadha. Māgadha-prastha is referred to in the Anuyogadvāra p.230, p.423 ( edn.) iii) Kautilya mentions various types of liquor, wine and alcohol in the 46th adhyāya. The varieties are mentioned as madhu-maireyasură-sīdhū etc. The Jñātādharmakathā repeats the same list in the

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