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 SŪTRA
[Ćh. V
some ideas as to the purchasing power of the high, low and middle class families, i.e. of the well-to-do merchants and nobles, the poor, and the men of the professional class.
It is learnt that there was a limited number of wealthy persons as considered from the economic standard of that period and of the present day.
There appeared a few monarchs, like Bala, Siva, Udayana, Seņiya, Udāyana, Keśīkumāra, Kūņika and others whose wealth and prosperity were derived from land taxes and customs supplemented by other dues, such as, cattle, gifts and presents,' and wealth inherited from the forefathersø.
It has been pointed out in connection with the topic 'Capital in the third section of this chapter that one of the Ksatriya princes named Jamālī possessed so much accumulated wealth that it would not get exhausted even in seven generations, if it would have been spent and distributed according to bis desires.
Next came a number of nobles and rich aristocrats like Nāgaputra Varuņa of Vaišālis, Tāmali of Tāmralipti", and Rşabbadatta of Brāhmaṇakundagrāma? and the Sämantarājas' and Ganarājas', who were considered well-to-do, possessing abundant wealth of all kinds.
In the Bhs mention is made of a Padhama Satthavāha10 always associated with the government and a few millionaire merchants, like those of Tungikāl and Hastināpura” who led a very luxurious life.
Besides these, the vast majority of the population lived on agriculture and a considerable number on different arts and crafts and other trades, and had to work hard. While a section of the peoples both male and female earned their livelihood by serving the government and the royal and rich aristocratic families
1.2 Bhs, 11, 11, 429, 316, 9, 33, 389. 16, 9, 33, 384. • 16, 7, 9, 303.
8 Ib, 3, 1, 134. 7 I., 9, 33, 380. 8 Ib, 11, 9, 417. 9I6, 7, 9, 303. 10 Ib, 9, 33, 385 ; 13, 6,491. 11 Ib, 3, 5, 107. 1216, 18, 2, 618.