The World of Courtesans c7.10

c7.10

According to Kautilya a *rupajiva* who lived on the profits of her beauty was not a state employee. She, however, had to pay a monthly tax to the government amounting to two days' earnings. In the case of financial stringency, however, she had to pay half of her earnings to the state. Emergency taxes were not levied on the *ganika* as she was a whole time government employee on a monthly salary. As the *ganika* was a source of revenue to the state the *ganikadhyaksha* kept a constant vigil on her activities, tried to determine her earnings accurately, and kept a check on her extravagance.