Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 338

Sec. IV]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
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produced in its society may be classified into four groups, viz. tax and customs, wage, interest, and profit.
Tax and customs-One portion of this national wealth went to the state-coffer in the shape of taxes and customs (karam and sukkam) collected by the government officials from the produces of land and commerce respectively at some rates, not specifically mentioned, as already pointed out in connection with the fiscal administration in the third chapter, while the remainder came to the social use and consumption of the people in general.
Wage-The officials and other servants of the state, family-attendants and different tradesmen received their portion in the form of salaries, according to the nature of their respective jobs and the hired labourers got wages for their labour, as it is suggested by the term 'bhayagattae" (hired labourer).
Interest A class of merchants earned their income by the banking business from the interest on the money invested by them at some rate, as it has already been mentioned that the Sramaṇopāsakas of Tungika increased their wealth by the money-lending profession."
Profit-Profit is the surplus wealth produced by the organized power of labour, skill and management of the industry and commerce over the actual cost of the production of goods.
It was the remuneration to the organizers of the industrial and commercial establishments, as it is evidenced by the fact that the merchants went abroad for trade with the desire to gain much wealth and returned home with a large amount of the same after a long period of sixteen years".
Measures and Weights
The BhS throws some light upon the system of measures and weights used in commercial transaction during its period.
8.4 Ib, 2, 5, 107.
1 Bhs, 11, 11, 429. Ib, 15, 1, 547. 40
2 Ib, 12, 7, 458. • Ib, 12, 6, 456.