India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c9.s2.5

c9.s2.5

Pāṇini condemns vile artisans as *pāpa-śilpī* (VI.2.68). The *grāma-taksha* (V.4.95) was a carpenter who went to work on daily wages to the house of his clients in the village. On the other hand, the *kauṭa-taksha* was one who worked on his own account in his own workshop (*kuṭī*) and was thus of a higher status. This distinction still obtains in rural economy (cf. Aurel Stein, *Hatim's Tales*, p. 41). The carpenter working at his own house is paid for his work a share of the agriculture produce by his customers.