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CHAPTER IX ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS
CONDITIONS SECTION 1. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
The Paumac ariyaṁ furnishes sufficient data about the economic conditions of the people. The conventional description of the Rājagsha (2. 1-14) and references at other places indicate that there was a class of nobles and the rich who lived a prosperous life. They flourished in plenty and abundance. Their big mansions and storeyed building with various rooms beautifully adorned the well-planned towns. The streets looked magnificent with rows of houses on both the sides. There were luxurious gardens as pleasure resorts. Various public displays and exhibits graced the civic life of the people, Reference to sumptuous dishes, costly utensils, confortable articles of furniture, musical performances, dance-recitals and religious festivities indicate the luxurious and happy life of the people. The wealth of precious stones and minerals was no less. Trade piled heavily in big towns. Merchants and caravans are regularly referred to. Cities were noisy with the din and bustle of the markets. Thus there prevailed a happy state of affairs. But there were the poor also who led an unfortunate life. The PCV refers to people who were devoid of any wealth (75.60). Stricken with poverty they led a miserable (88.6) life. Some lived merely on the pursuits of gathering grass and wood (103.30. Some pulled on with begging and remnants of dinner (13.14). The poor satisfied themselves during the winter by sitting around the fire because they could hardly afford anything more than scanty clothing (31.43). In absence of sufficient clothing the skin of their bodies got wrinkled and blustered (31.43). The less fortunate had to be content with his hut. His sole property was an earthen pot and an earthen dish (33.85). Thus we find that the poor and the unhappy people formed not a minor part of the society and there was a great contrast between the life of the rich and the poor.
Generally there was peace but occasional battles ad wars became the cause of distress and a large scale bloodshed. Evil elements like thieves, robbers, dacoits, plunderers and criminals at times tormented the social life. The want of proper medical facilities could not save
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