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SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
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The men of the town led a life of cosiness and sophistication. They were sāttvikas and had courage enough to reach the assembly of the king. They were good orators. They did not deride but amused others. They imbibed the virtues of others. They were contented. They stood by in hours of trial. They lived by the method of mutual give and take. They did good to others.
Kāñcī, the capital of Daksināpatha, has been likewise described engirt round by a circle of moat abounding in groups of alligators, crabs and fish, like Lankā by Lavanasāgara and the capital of gods by the firmament and the cordoned round by a fortification (or vallum) having a white wall of marble, partitioned on all sides by extensive and huge market lanes crowded by traders prone to maritime trade, stuffed with water in the form of tassels of sheen from the gems collected in heaps in their porches and bearing on both sides the series of mansions. It was as if the cantonment of autumnal clouds established through the temples of gods. It was, as it were, the enjoyment abode brought to incarceration, by the gardens on the outprecincts. It had the prevalence of dialects of all other countries obtained recognition. It had the chambers of the coquettes turning it into all the ncthers. It was not far away from the southern ocean and was abounding in heaps of gold and hordes of riches. It had the moneyed people fond of betel roll (Punningly- It had rich people slothful like a tusker)." It had citizens and philosophers conversant with the views of others or tolerant towards the creeds of others. The Brāhmaṇas were true to their caste and order. It had buildings built in straight lanes. The palaces ranged in large rows." The
1. TM. Vol. I. pp 52-53. 2. अस्ति... लंकेलवणसागरेण त्रिदशनगरीवान्तरिक्षेण कृतपरिकरा मकरकुलीरमीनाराशिसंकुलेन परिखामण्डलेन....
स्फातिमुपगतेन स्फाटिक धवलभित्तिना प्राकारेण परिवृत्ता, विधृततटसाधर्म्यहावलीधृतोभय विभागैरजिरपुंजित् प्राज्य रत्नप्रभा जालजलनिभरैरनवरतबहत्समुद्रायायजनिवहकलकलाक्रान्त दिक्चक्रैः..... समन्ततः सीमन्तिता विशालायतैर्विपणिपथैः आवासित शरज्जलदशिविरैरिव सुरमन्दिरैः बन्दीकृत समस्तभोगभूमि रिव परिसरारामैः एकीकृताशेषविषयान्तरैव सर्वदेशभाषा श्रुतिभिः उद्घाटित समग्रसुरविवरेव विलासिनीवासभवनैः, अनतिदूरवर्तिनी
afvigeR11+12 714 71 Ibid. Vol. III p. 170. 3. Ibid. Vol. III p. 171. 4. Ibid. Vol. III p. 171. 5. Ibid. Vol. III p. 171. 6. A th: 14: Ibid. 7. Peug: URI: H ai Ibid. III p.171. 8. Curry: SERI: "ERTAT I Ibid. 9. mufaferal: Efayl: Ibid. vol. III p. 172. 10. EHITAT: YRIGI: Ibid.
