________________
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
405
along with - "अनुजीविनो राजपुत्रजनस्य पात्रतानुसारेण संविभक्त स्वभक्तिनगरग्रामनिवहनिश्चिन्तयोः""
refers to 'Uttarāpatha' or Northern India in its entirety comprising of Kāśmīra and other Mandalas including all the towns and villages forming the region meant for the government of Harivāhana and Anga and other Janapadas with all the sources of revenue forming the region meant for the government of Samaraketu both of whom distributed the towns and villages meant to be governed locally by some princes of their choice. The sources of revenue consisted in the acceptance of clothes, upper scarfs or counterpanes, gems, ornaments, unguents, fruits, weapons, vehicles and other gift articles produced or available in the countries of the subsidiary kings reigning in other islands, which involved a large amount of import and export duty on goods imported and sold and those exported in exchange. The cconomic affluence of the Nagara whose borders Samaraketu crossed in company with his entourage and army personnel has been amply illustrated here -
"The consemblies of the twice-born i.e. the Brāhmaṇas held in esteem by the prince by prostrations and gratified showering blessings afford an impression about the healthy economic conditions of the times. The crowds of citizen folk offering homage equally corroborates the fact that subjects had no resentments. The old women showering fried grains illustrates the contentment of the every section of society. The towns, women looking at him affectionately expresses the warmth of feeling which again is a trait of healthy circumstances prevailing in the country.".
The Nagarasīmā i.e. the border regions of the town had breeze from the groves redolent with the flavour of the vast fields of red-rice. The waters on the shores of lakes were resonant with the notes of the sārasas, swans and ospreys exuberantly inebriate. The under surfaces of the old trees were rendered yellowish by the seeds of paniccorn (Priyangu) bitten half by aquiline beaks of parrots. It had stationed at many spots the rich caravans of traders consisting largely or crowded with mules, horses in many number, moved out for an outing as indicated by the turrets that had groups of kits (sacks) collected in the courtyards, had huge safes of riches placed in the corners of the tents made of crimson canvas tailored afresh and had servants busy continuously in preparing the trappings of the bulls such as
: Ibid.
1. TM. Vol. II., 250-251 2. Tritacat fu: SITUA: Torfason: FHUTA dydakty: Hadf 1 pp. 232-233. 3. Ibid. pp. 254-255.
