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The Vanik and the Vanijja in Early Ancient India
that dealers in fruits, rice (odanika), fish and meat were called vaniks.1 We find reference that in Indore there lived vaniks.2
The Arthasastra seems to be particular about curbing the tendency of making illegal profit by the traders (vaniks).8 The Jataka sources show that adulteration was a crime committed by the traders (vaniks). V. S. Agrawala rightly suggests that this term vanik was applied to traders without distinction of caste. 5
The Avadanas ataka clearly refers to the contractual relationship between the caravan-leader (Sarthavaha) and other traders (vaniks). The five hundred traders (vaniks), who accompanied the Maitrakanyaka (Sarthavaha) contributed to him with various taxes like Sulka, gulma, tar panya, etc. The very aim of a trader (vanik) was profit. It is also suggested in the Rigveda. The traders (vaniks) received much benefit by conducting the business like a banker. There are many stories involving deposits cited by Sternbach," the person with whom the deposit was made had been described as Vanik.
15
The comprehensive character of the term vanik is also evident by the fact that the main commercial route was called Vanika pathas during the rule of the Mauryas. 10 It is to be noted that the Arthasästra refers
1.
2.
3.
4.
Milind., p. 324.
Fleet. Corp. I. Inscription, 3. 70; Rai, U. N., Prachin Bharat me Nagar tatha nagarjivan, p. 44. (Indrapurak vanigbhyam).
Arth., II. 16, 7-8.
Bose, A. N, Social and Rural Economy in Northern India, pp.
283-84.
5. Agrawala, V. S., Panini's Astadhyayi, Indian History, Congress Proceedings, Vol. I. 1941.
6. Avadanasataka, pp. 89-90.
7.
Avadana Şataka, VI. 53, p. 135 (Vanigiv Labdhalabha).
8. RV, IV. 24, 9.
9.
Sternbach, L., Juridical Studies in Ancient India, Vol. I, Delhi, 1965; Epigraphia India, 18. 9.
10. Rawlinson, H. C., Intercourse between India and the Western World, p. 46.
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