Book Title: Political History of Northern India
Author(s): Gulabchandra Chaudhary
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar

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Page 398
________________ 368 POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES It also frequently refers to dinar (dinarious), a gold coin. The chief coin which our inscriptions mention is the dramma. The half dramma was called drammārdha. The Bījāpur Jain inscription of Dhavala (c. 980 A.D.)2 and several other inscriptions refer to the use of rūpaka which in Mohammadan period came to be known as rupee, perhaps it was equal to one fourth of dramma. The minor coins that are mentioned are the vinsopaka, presumably the 20th part of dramma and the kapardikā, kakini and varațaka.3 Hemacandra in his Dvyāśraya-kavya mentions some of the interesting coins. Among the minor coins he names sūrpa. One garland cost two sūrpas in those days. He also refers to prastha and bhāgika, the latter being equal to about half a rupee in value. We also find mentioned there some valuable coins of gold. A coin is referred to as equal to 20 or 40 rupees, which seems to be made of heavy gold. Other gold coins mentioned are niska, vista and pala. Other Sources of Income: Unclaimed property and treasure were some other sources of income to the king. Thus, we learn that the Caulukya kings used co take the property of the deceased who had no sons after them in their estates. Large tributes from the feudatories and valuable presents from the merchants of other countries also yielded a profuse income to the state. Fines and forfeitures formed another plentiful source of income. Expenditure: The state had to employ so many paid officials to maintain the departments. Besides the expenditure of the royal household the king had to meet the pay and pension of the officials including the menials. A good sum of income was used up by the military department to maintain the soldiers, leaders, animals and other paraphernalia of the army. The kings of our period spent the state income for religious and benevolent purposes also as we see in the case of Bhoja, Paramāra, Jayasimha Siddharāja, Kumārapala, and the illustrious ministers Vastupāla and Tejahpāla. Accounts Department: Somadeva emphasises that accounts of income and expenditure should be kept in an orderly manner and submitted periodically for audit and approval. If there be any discrepancy, it should be checked by the expert accountants. This department was a part of the 1 Ibid., p. 289. See supra, p. 182. S DV. Canto XVII, V. 88. 4 Ibid., Canto XVII, V. 48. * Ibid., Canto V, 94 and 100. • Ibid., Canto IV, V. 45, XVII, V. 83-84. ? Nitiva., p. 189: 37127674fagfaqet gaisa be : 1 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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