Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 144

122
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(JULY, 1931
Ndvadhyakpa (officer in charge of ships and boats) appears to be quite intelligible and correct. Boats employed on pearl-fishing did not sail from Patna.
(2) Setu and Setu-bandha.--Again, a careful perusal of the Artha-sdstra shows that the janapadas described by Kautalya abounded in marshes, swamps, natural as well as artificial lakes and water-reservoirs. He uses the word setu to denote these lakes. Herr Meyer took the word in the sense of water-reservoir. Dr. Shamasastry failed to hit upon the mean. ing, and thereby marted his English translation. Kautalya used the term sahodala-setu for natural pools and lakes, 91 while embankments made by villagers across marshy tracts were called setu-patha and setu-bandha. They served as boundaries and also as roads for passing from one side to the other. Their destruction was prohibited and severely punished (setu-vana-patham pafchatak).
These swamps and pools of water were used for fishing purposes 33 during summer and also for growing vegetables, rice and fruits, when patches of land dried up in that season. Famines never visited these watery regions. (Nityanupakto hi varpa-guna-lábhaḥ setuvá perue.) 95 Where there was no water the king was advised to put dams across small rivers and encourage others to do the same. 36 (Anudake kipasetu-bandhotsån sthapayet, puupa-phala-vd gamóca.)?
Natural water pools, lakes and marshes were considered to be the property of the king. For five years no taxes were collected from those who erected dams and stored water. The revenue derived from the setus formed an important item and was recorded under the game term, i.e., setu. 49 The country of Magadha may have had marshes and lakes, but there is no historical data available in that connection. On the other hand, Kautalya's description of the sitadhyaka's duties furnishes abundant evidence of the existence of setu. There are many reservoirs in the Malwå country.
Smith, in his Early History of India, records the construction of a lake by Pushyamitra in Girnår, which "endured for four hundred years, but in the year 150 A.D. a storm of ex. ceptional violence destroyed the embankment, and with it the lake. The embankment was then rebuilt three times stronger than before by order of the Saka satrap Rudradaman, who has recorded the history of the work in an inscription which is the only known epigraphic record containing the names of Chandragupta and Aboka Maurya.
Notwithstanding the triple strength of Rudradaman's masonry, it too failed to with stand the fury of the elements, the dam again burst, and was repaired once more in 458 A.D. by the local governor serving under Skandagupta." 30 In the same manner it is stated that “The Chandel princes were great builders, and beautified their chief towns, Mahoba, Kalanjar, and Khajuraho, with many magnificent temples and lovely lakes, formed by throwing massive dams across the openings between the hills. In this practice of building embank. ments and constructing lakes the Chandels were imitators of the Gaharwars, who are credited with the formation of some of the most charming lakes in Bundelkhand.31 Dr. Smith goes further by recording that "The great Bhojpur lake, a beautiful sheet of water to the south-east of Bhopal, covering an area of more than 250 square miles, formed by massive embankments closing the outlet in a circle of hills, was his (Bhoja's] noblest monument, and continued to testify to the skill of his engineers until the fifteenth century."33 From these notices it is clear that the country stretching from Girnar up to Bundelkhand was full of tanks. It was within this area* that the Malwa empire was situated ; and so it satisfies Kautalya's test in this respect also. 31 K. S., p. 299, 1, 2.
99 Ibid., p. 171, 1, 6. 33 K. S., p. 20, 1. 18.
36 Ibid., 1. 17. 36 Ibid., p. 307, 1. 5.
* Ibid., p. 173, 1. 15; p. 56, 1. 13; p. 49, L. 2. 31 Ibid., p. 141, 1. 7.
3 Ibid., p. 170, 11. 1 and 2. 19 Ibid., p. 59, 1. 15.
30 Smith, E.H.I., pp. 139-140. 31 Ibid., p. 406.
33 Ibid., p. 411. NOTE.-There were pearl fisheries also on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kachoh. The torna hu-patha might perhaps include causeways across the swamps of the Ranns-JOINT-EDITOR.