Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 342

317
Sec. IV]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
India had a trade relation with Alexandria after the name of which the grain was known to be as 'Alisamdaga' in India where it was imported from that Greek city by way of foreign trade.
This commercial intercourse with Alexandria seems to be supported by the evidence of the Aśokan Edict' in which it is stated that king Aśoka established diplomatic and cultural relations with Alikasudara which was one of the five Greek Potentates.
The fact of foreign trade between ancient India and Greece is corroborated by the topographical account of the Periplus' of the Erythraean Sea in which it is recorded that the ships abound in the port of Muziris (modern Cranganore in SouthWestern India) from Arab, Greece and Persia.
Besides these, the mention of some waiting maids belonging to different Indian tribes and foreign countries, such as Cilatikās Simghalis, Arabis, Pārasīs, etc., clearly suggests that India had a regular trade relation with those countries, as it is evidenced by the fact that those female attendants were dressed in their respective tribal and national costumes which also formed the articles of trade.
The evidences of external trade are also corroborated by those of other Jaina texts during their periods.
It is learnt from the Uttaradhyayana-Tika' that Ayala, a merchant of Ujjayini, carried on a regular foreign business with Parasa country (Persia) by the land and sea routes, having taken the merchandise from India for sale and purchased the commercial goods from that country.
The Buddhist works also throw much light upon the relation of ancient India with the foreign countries in this field of economic affairs.
Thus it is known from them that the overland Caravans, sometimes going east and west and also across the deserts, took
1 R. E. XIII. 8 Bhs, 9, 33, 380. "Jātaka, 1, 98 f.
The 'Periplus of the Erythraean Sea' Schoff. 4 Uttaradhyayana. Tikā, 3. P. 64