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X, 120.
TIMES OF DISTRESS; THE KING.
427
116. Learning, mechanical arts, work for wages, service, rearing cattle, traffic, agriculture, contentment (with little), alms, and receiving interest on money, are the ten modes of subsistence (permitted to all men in times of distress).
117. Neither a Brahmana, nor a Kshatriya must lend (money at) interest; but at his pleasure (either of them) may, in times of distress (when he requires money) for sacred purposes, lend to a very sinful man at a small interest.
118. A Kshatriya (king) who, in times of distress, takes even the fourth part (of the crops), is free from guilt, if he protects his subjects to the best of his ability.
119. His peculiar duty is conquest, and he must not turn back in danger; having protected the Vaisyas by his weapons, he may cause the legal tax to be collected ;
120. (Viz.) from Vaisyas one-eighth as the tax on
triyas, the fifth and sixth for Vaisyas (or the fifth for Vaisyas, the sixth for Sadras, Nâr.), and the seventh for Brahmanas.
116. Learning,' i. e. (teaching) other than Vedic sciences, e.g. logic, exorcising evil spirits, or charms against poison (Medh., Kull., Når., Râgh.). Gov. thinks that 'teaching for a stipulated fee' is also permissible under this rule.
117. Vas. II, 40–43. Gov., Nár., and K. read alpakam instead of alpikam, and with this var. lect. the last clause might be translated with Nár. by ...(either of them)... may lend a small (sum) to a very sinful man.'
119. I read with Gov. and K. na bhaye instead of nâhave (editions). Medhi's text has the latter reading, but the commentary bhaye upasthite parârmukho yuddhe na syât, 'when danger threatens he shall not turn back in battle,' indicates that his reading was bhaye. The same inference may be drawn from Kull.'s commentary. Nand. gives na bhave, probably a mistake for na bhaye.
120. According to Medh., the first line refers to the profits of
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