Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 294

STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
269
different sections of the people of its society for earning their livelihood, such as, hunting of deer (miyavittie)', fishery (macchakacchehim..... ...vittiin kuppemāņā)', charcoal-making (imgālakamme), cutting and selling of forest plants franakamme), making and selling of carts (sāļikamme), transport business (bhādikamme), cultivation (phoạikamme), ivory business (dartavānijje), lacbusiness (lakkhavānijje), traffic in hair (kesavānijje), e.g. woolbusiness", wine business (rasavānijje), poison-business (visavānijje), act of crushing (e.g. sugarcane, etc. with machine, jartapılana-kamme)", castration of bulls (nillam chanakamme), act of setting fire to the woods (davaggidāvanayā i.e. clearing off jungles), act of draining or drying up the big tank, lake, etc. (sara-daha-talāya-paris08aņayā) and act of running brothel (asaī posaņayā)".
Besides these, a flourishing trade was carried on by the merchants in gold, bell-metal, cloth, jewel, gem, pearls, conch, coral, red jewelo, etc.
These evidences clearly show that the economic structure of the society as depicted in this canonical work was based on agriculture, arts and crafts, trade and industry and banking business partially controlled by the state, as it is already discussed in connection with the aiscal administration in the sixth section of the third chapter that there were well-organized revenue and commerce departments with their various activities connected with finance of the Government, such as, the land settlement, taxation, raising the standard of weights and mea. sures, money-lending business, etc. Moreover, one rich merchant (Satthavāha) was always associated with the administration along with the other high dignitaries of the state, probably as economic adviser to the Government.
1 Bhs, 1, 8, 65; 67.
16, 7, 6, 288. 3 16, 8, 5, 330. (Abhaya Deva Sūri explains that Kesa
vānij ja means cattle-business "Kesavajjivānām gomahişistri
prabhrtikānām vikrayah") 4.5 1b, 8, 5, 330. 815, 8, 5, 328. ? IB, 2, 5, 107. 8 16, 7, 9, 300.