Jain Journal 1997 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 31

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXII, No. 2 October 1997
samnivesas (227). The Bhillas are Mlecchas; but now and then, despite their wild habits (112.21 f.) in contrast to the respectable, they too have their code of behaviour (146.13-6). Traders had their clubs; and the custom at such a Club in Sopparaya (i.e. Sopara near Bombay) was that the foreign traders narrated their experiences and adventures and were honoured there with Gandha, Tambula and Malya (65.22 f.). These traders exchanged their information as to what commodities were available in different places and where they could be sold with greater profit. Horses were sold in Kosala in return for elephants; betel nuts were exported to Uttarapatha in exchange for horses; and pearls were exported to Eastern country (purvadeśa) in exchange for Camaras. Conchs were available in Dvarakā. From the Barabarakul a tusks and pearls were brought in exchange for clothes. Palāsa flowers could fetch gold in Suvarna-dvipa. Buffaloes and cows fetched netrapaṭṭa in Cina and Mahacina. Neem leaves could buy jewels in Ratnadvipa. Men were in great demand in the kingdom of ladies etc. Some of these details cannot be accepted on their face value: they may be just exaggeration ( 129). In the busy market places, men from the different parts of the country came and had conversations in different languages (246) which are interesting specimens of contemporary spoken idioms as the author could catch them. Their business conversations are quite lively and give some ideas about the weights and measures (153.16 f.). Greedy merchants took risks of travelling on land and by sea of the dangers of which they were quite aware (65.15 f., 66 6 f.). Now and then there were shipwrecks (166). Traders went on long journeys, some time for more than twelve years, leaving their young wives behind (74.12 f.). Various good and bad omens were attended to while going on a journey for the preparation etc. (see (285), and they are explained in short ( 289).
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The birth of a prince and the subsequent activities and festivities are elaborated in a stylistic manner. Likewise the wedding is described in all the details: the prelimineries of the marriage, the wedding function along with the rituals and concluding rites, the bed-ceremony, the couple enjoying the sea-sight from the palace terrace and various pastimes such as prehelikā etc. ( 273-80). A good description of the coronation of Yuvaraja is available (200.8 f.). There is a scene of the royal apana-bhumi at which various sweet drinks are served (50).
Very interesting are the gossips of the village ladies bringing water and of the boys in residential schools (149.30 f., 151.18 f.). The parade of conveyances ( 57) in the royal courtyard and the scene of the