The Colas c27.5

c27.5

Another general term of somewhat uncertain import is '*iravu*', which, in one of the few instances⁷ so far known of it, figures as some sort of a cess paid in kind and amounting to a little over 20 per cent of the *puravu*, the land-tax. The word '*iravu*' (begging) reminds one of a famous saying in the *Kuṟaḷ* which compares to a highwayman the king addressing a request to his subjects (for financial assistance); this saying in turn recalls Kauṭilya's dicta on *praṇaya* (benevolence).