Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd
Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd
wage in Kautiliya Arthashastra is given as 60 pana annual. The pana in Katuilya has the same place as of rupee in present economy. According to Rangrajan, this wage was supposed to be sufficient to get one prastha (approximately 4 kgs.) grain daily. (Rangrajan, 1992: 110) This was considered a sufficient diet for four times daily for an Aryan. (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2, 2006: 2.15.43) For the dependents of workers 15 pana annual was paid separately. In festivals extra money (with leave) was given to workers and their families. (Rangrajan, ibid) Requirement of Rain Arthashastra describes types of rains, rain forecasting, and measurement of rain, timings and intensity of rain in different parts of the country. Kautilya believed that the rise and set of some stars and planets the rainfall influences. Therefore Kautilya has suggested to keep in mind these planets while sowing the seeds. Kautilya has described different types of soil and water necessary for the harvest according to the feature of the soil, distance from rivers and ponds, situation of land- highland or lowland. According to Kautilya 16 drona is the amount of rain in dry lands, one and half times that in water lands, where sowings are in conformity with the nature of the region, 13 dronas and a half in the Asmak, 23 dronas in Table 3.1.The Requirement of Rain Kinds of land Requirements Transformation in inches Not irrigated land 16 drona 25 Wet land 24 drona 37 ½ Asmak land 13 ½ drona 21 Avanti, Malwas, Source: Rangrajan, 1992: 249 the Avantis, unlimited in the snowy other regions regions, and unlimited as to time in lands where sowings are made with the help of canals. (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2, 2003, 2.24.7) The requirement of rain and its conversion in inches is given in th table 3.1. When one-third of the requisite quantity of rain falls both during the commencement and closing months of the rainy season and two thirds in the middle, then the rainfall is considered very even. (Kautilya’s Arthashastra, 1967, 2.24) Crops Kautilya suggests The Superintendent of Agriculture to sow the seeds according to the rainfall. Kautilya describes three types of crops according to rainfallm these are as follows- 1. Summer crops 2. Wet crops 3. Winter crops According to the amount of water availability for the work, The Superintendent of Agriculture should decide on wet crops, winter crops, or summer crops. The superintendent shall grow wet, winter crops, or summer crops according to supply of workmen and worker. (ibid, 2.24.24) Kautilya gives direction to the Superintendent to keep in mind not only the season and irrigation facility for a crop but also work force needed to sow and to collect the grain. At the same time he suggests to have regular relations with carpenters and iron smiths who help directly or indirectly in the work of production. On the basis of production Kautilya has divided the crops in three parts, these are as follows- 1. Highest return crops 2. Intermediate return crops 3. Lowest return crops 35 36
He opines that Shali (winter season paddy) and other paddy breeds provide the maximum return, vegetables’ return is intermediate in nature, and sugar-cane provides the least return. For sugarcanes are fraught with many dangers and require much expenditure. Thus paddy farming was considered to be least expensive and farming of sugarcane most expensive. Here Kautilya compares the agriculture production with the cost for sowing and the return provided by them. This analysis provides the information that ancient economists used, though implicit, cost benefit analysis and cost recovery analysis in agriculture production. What should be sown near canals, rivers and other sources of water and what should be sown on the land away from these sources were also specified on the basis of Science of Agriculture. He says, 'Vegetables should be grown near rivers, canals, wells etc'. Different herbal plants were grown on different places according to suitability of different types of land. According to Kautilya, lands that are near the banks of rivers and ponds are suitable for growing pumpkin, gourd and other same species of creeper plants. He suggests that lands that are frequently over flown by water for long are beneficial for pepper, grapes, and sugarcane. According to him, vegetables and root crops should be sown near wells and low grounds because these places are useful for green crops. For the maximum utilization of farm lands he again suggests that marginal spaces between any two rows of crops are suitable for the plantation of perfumed plants, and medical herbs like usira grass, hribera, pindaluka and other same species. He clearly states that The Superintendent of Agriculture should grow recommended plants on dry lands and wet lands to get maximum agriculture production.(ibid) 37 Preparation for seed bed has been discussed in Kautiliya Arthashastra in detail. He suggests to put seeds for paddy farms in wet climate for seven moon-lit nights and then for seven days in sun-light. Pulses should be kept for three days and nights or five days. (ibid, 2.24.24) Kautilya has given some valuable suggestion for the treatment of seeds to keep away from crop diseases. He suggests getting good harvest sugarcane should be smeared at the cut with honey, ghee and pig’s fat, and mixed with cow dung in the stalks before sowing. He opines that smearing with honey and ghee in the case of bulbous roots, smearing with cow-dung in the case of stone like seeds, and in the case of trees, burning in the pit and fulfillment of the longing with cow-bones and cow dung at the proper time will yield better and more yield. (ibid) It is a well known fact that whatever the manual labour be, agriculture production is affected by the nature. Therefore, good crops are possible only when nature is suitable. Whatever the efforts of farmers be, if nature is against him, the crops will suffer. Therefore, prayer of nature was performed before cropping. Kautilya suggested the farmer that, the first sowing of all kinds of seeds, he should sow the first handful (after it is) immersed in water containing gold and should recite a mantra. This beautiful mantra is given in Arthashastra as follows- Prajapataye Kasyapayadevaya namah sada, Sita me radhyatam devi bijesu ch dhaneu ch5 . (Kautilya’s Arthashastra,1967, 2.24) (We salute to Prajapita, Kasyapa and God of rains. May Goddess Sita bless not only the seeds to grow but also to grow our wealth.) Obviously, without the support of nature good harvest is not possible. Nepalese farmers are still using this customry function in 38
- Page 1 and 2: CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Hillebrand
- Page 3 and 4: was 8800 but at present it consists
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- Page 17: supervision were clearly to be supp
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- Page 27 and 28: Regulation of Trade and Protection
- Page 29 and 30: judged through the process prescrib
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- Page 39 and 40: Introduction CHAPTER SIX GOVERNMENT
- Page 41 and 42: h. Monopoly tax i. Royalty j. Taxes
- Page 43 and 44: words, 'Fifteen days and nights mak
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wage in <strong>Kautiliya</strong> Arthashastra is given as 60 pana annual. The pana in<br />
Katuilya has the same place as <strong>of</strong> rupee in present economy. According<br />
to Rangrajan, this wage was supposed to be sufficient to get one prastha<br />
(approximately 4 kgs.) grain daily. (Rangrajan, 1992: 110) This was<br />
considered a sufficient diet for four times daily for an Aryan. (<strong>Kautiliya</strong><br />
Arthashastra-2, 2006: 2.15.43) For the dependents <strong>of</strong> workers 15<br />
pana annual was paid separately. In festivals extra money (with leave)<br />
was given to workers <strong>and</strong> their families. (Rangrajan, ibid)<br />
Requirement <strong>of</strong> Rain<br />
Arthashastra describes types <strong>of</strong> rains, rain forecasting, <strong>and</strong><br />
measurement <strong>of</strong> rain, timings <strong>and</strong> intensity <strong>of</strong> rain in different parts <strong>of</strong><br />
the country. Kautilya believed that the rise <strong>and</strong> set <strong>of</strong> some stars <strong>and</strong><br />
planets the rainfall influences. Therefore Kautilya has suggested to<br />
keep in mind these planets while sowing the seeds.<br />
Kautilya has described different types <strong>of</strong> soil <strong>and</strong> water<br />
necessary for the harvest according to the feature <strong>of</strong> the soil, distance<br />
from rivers <strong>and</strong> ponds, situation <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>- highl<strong>and</strong> or lowl<strong>and</strong>. According<br />
to Kautilya 16 drona is the amount <strong>of</strong> rain in dry l<strong>and</strong>s, one <strong>and</strong> half<br />
times that in water l<strong>and</strong>s, where sowings are in conformity with the<br />
nature <strong>of</strong> the region, 13 dronas <strong>and</strong> a half in the Asmak, 23 dronas in<br />
Table 3.1.The Requirement <strong>of</strong> Rain<br />
Kinds <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> Requirements Transformation in<br />
inches<br />
Not irrigated l<strong>and</strong> 16 drona 25<br />
Wet l<strong>and</strong> 24 drona 37 ½<br />
Asmak l<strong>and</strong> 13 ½ drona 21<br />
Avanti, Malwas,<br />
Source: Rangrajan, 1992: 249<br />
the Avantis, unlimited in the snowy other regions regions, <strong>and</strong> unlimited<br />
as to time in l<strong>and</strong>s where sowings are made with the help <strong>of</strong> canals.<br />
(<strong>Kautiliya</strong> Arthashastra-2, 2003, 2.24.7) The requirement <strong>of</strong> rain<br />
<strong>and</strong> its conversion in inches is given in th table 3.1. When one-third <strong>of</strong><br />
the requisite quantity <strong>of</strong> rain falls both during the commencement <strong>and</strong><br />
closing months <strong>of</strong> the rainy season <strong>and</strong> two thirds in the middle, then<br />
the rainfall is considered very even. (Kautilya’s Arthashastra, 1967, 2.24)<br />
Crops<br />
Kautilya suggests The Superintendent <strong>of</strong> Agriculture to sow<br />
the seeds according to the rainfall. Kautilya describes three types <strong>of</strong><br />
crops according to rainfallm these are as follows-<br />
1. Summer crops<br />
2. Wet crops<br />
3. Winter crops<br />
According to the amount <strong>of</strong> water availability for the work,<br />
The Superintendent <strong>of</strong> Agriculture should decide on wet crops, winter<br />
crops, or summer crops. The superintendent shall grow wet, winter<br />
crops, or summer crops according to supply <strong>of</strong> workmen <strong>and</strong> worker.<br />
(ibid, 2.24.24) Kautilya gives direction to the Superintendent to keep<br />
in mind not only the season <strong>and</strong> irrigation facility for a crop but also<br />
work force needed to sow <strong>and</strong> to collect the grain. At the same time he<br />
suggests to have regular relations with carpenters <strong>and</strong> iron smiths who<br />
help directly or indirectly in the work <strong>of</strong> production. On the basis <strong>of</strong><br />
production Kautilya has divided the crops in three parts, these are as follows-<br />
1. Highest return crops<br />
2. Intermediate return crops<br />
3. Lowest return crops<br />
35 36
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