Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. V
kings as one of the most important parts of the wealth of an individual family, as it is clearly expressed in the self-deliberations of the rich householder, Tamali of Tamralipti1 and king Siva of Hastinapura thus, "I prosper by gold, wealth, rice, sons, cattle", etc.
The term 'Pasu' used in the BhS and other texts denotes both wild and domestic animals in a wider sense. Here in the BhS this term signifies the cattle-wealth in general which was most essential for the agricultural operation and the animal husbandry.
It appears from the BhS that the usefulness of the service of the domestic animals in the economic life was fully realized and valued by the people of its society. The text gives a list of the domestic and wild animals in its stray references.
Under the category of the first one come the elephants," horses, bullocks,' cows, buffaloes,' goats.10 sheep," dogs," etc.
8
6
The elephants and horses were used by the kings and nobles11 in war as the fighting instruments and in the peaceful civil life as means of conveyance in their journeys. On their deaths their tusks and bones, particularly those of the elephants were of great value for the ivory work, as it is evidenced by the fact that a class of merchants carried on the ivory-business (damtavanijja).15
The cows and buffaloes in general came to the service of the agricultural operation and the dairy farming for the production of milk and its by-products, while the bullocks in particular were utilized for the transport purpose to draw the carts, and the sheep and goats supplied wool and meat, skin and sometimes milk also.
1 Bhs, 3, 1, 134.
3.4 Ib, 3, 1, 134; 11, 9, 417. 6 Ib, 7, 9, 303; 9, 33, 383. 8.9 Ib, 5, 3, 325. 13 Tb. 7, 9, 300.
15 Ib, 8, 5, 330.
2 Ib, 11, 9, 417.
5 Ib, 7, 9, 300; 9, 33, 385. 71b, 9, 33, 380.
10.11 Ib, 12, 7, 457. 12 Ib, 3, 1, 134. 14 Ib, 9,33,385; 7, 9,303; 9,33,383.