The Rashtrakutas and their Times c22.227

c22.227

The argument that the price of an ox was 12 Paṇas in the 5th century, since the penalty for an unnatural offence is a white ox according to Vasiṣṭha-Dharma-Sūtra and 12 Paṇas according to Kauṭalya, is also untenable. It presupposes that the two authors held similar views about punishments. A glance, however, at the treatment of this topic by these two authors shows that their views were widely different. Kauṭalya imposes only a fine upon a Kṣatriya for having intercourse with a Brahmana lady, (135) Vasiṣṭha, on the other hand, condemns the Kṣatriya culprit to death by burning. (136) Dr. Pran Nath's view that the Arthaśāstra and the Vasiṣṭha-Dharma-Sūtra prove, between themselves, that the price of a cow in the 5th century A.D. was about 12 or 13 Paṇas is thus untenable.