Economics of Mahaveera

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Adarsh Sahitya Sangh

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ECONOMICS OF MAHAVIRA
should be prohibited. If we analyse properly, the principles which he propounded for business are very valuable from the standpoint of non-violence and peace.
Principles of Ethical Business Mahavira prescribed a number of principles for ethical conduct of business:
Do not weigh or measure fraudulently. Do not show one thing and give something else.
Do not embezzle what is given in trust. Abhayadevasuri, the commentator of Upasak Dasha Sutra wrote: “At that time, a good deal of adulteration and bribery was rampant." This type of human nature has always been there. The craving of money has always been there in all ages, at all times. Adulteration was adopted in diverse ways and bribery was widely prevalent.
Chanakya wrote, “It is possible that the fish living in water may start flying in the sky, but it is not possible that the employees serving the state may not take bribe." Man's nature has always been the same. Craving for money, comforts and pleasure of the senses has always been covetable, and from the time it received the support of intellectuals, it lost all limits. The basis of socialism is materialism, and the basis of capitalism is also materialism. And wherever materialism rules, money, comfort and sensuous pleasure will get predominance. We should, therefore, not be surprised at this abandon and frivolity.
Question of Restraint and Satisfaction .. Control of senses. • Satisfaction of senses. Classical Economics had taken due account of the satisfaction of the senses. But it also ruled: Satisfy the senses but, along with it, also observe restraint. Chanakya said about the king, the ruler: A king should be a conqueror of the senses. Passion, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy, these are the six enemies which the king should conquer. If, for a social being, the satisfaction of