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CHAPTER XIII
(SECTION I)
WEALTH AND PROSPERITY OF KALINGA
The conntry of Kalinga, under Khāravela, prospered greatly, as is testified by the evidence of the Hāthigumphā inscription. The record styles Khāravela as Vadharāju'! or the king of prosperity. The royal treasury became full of gold, silver, pearls and precious stones, while the country grew rich in foodstuffs and other eatables and wearables. As a matter of fact, the possession of enorm. ous wealth in the shape of a large amount of ready money, vast stores of food-stuffs, precious stones, rich apparels, horses, elephants and other live-stocks is a test of the high fortunes and prosperity of a king overlord.” Fortunately, the Hāthigumphā text is not lacking in information on all these points.
Ready Money
As to ready money in the State treasury, we find that Khāravela possessed a sufficiently large amount to be in a position to spend thirty-five hundred thousand pieces of money in the very first year of his coronation in order to effect various repairs in his capital city. In the third regnal year, he entertained the people of the capital with dancing, singing, instrumental music and
1. Line 16. 2. Qid. Barua, OBI, p. 250.
3. Original :-"Abhisitamato cha padhame vase vuta vihatagopura påkāra nivesanan pațisain kharayati kalinga-nagari-khibira sitala-tadägapadiyo cha vandhipayati savyana-patisamthapana i cha kūrayati panați. sāhi sata-sahasehi pakatiyo cha rañjayati."
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