Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s5.8

c12.s5.8

Thus Kauṭalya had in mind both crown lands and communal lands when he used the terms *sīta* and *bhāga*. Foreign travellers could hardly be expected to understand the complexity of land tenures and hence their accounts cannot certainly be taken at their face value. Strabo and Diodorus speak of the king's ownership of all lands, the cultivators' claim being one-fourth of the produce as remuneration. Arrian does not state anything about the proprietorship of land, but records that a certain tribute was paid to the king for land by husbandmen. Neither of these writers makes the distinction between state lands as such and lands held by the community. The *Arthaśāstra* which ought to be credited with the full knowledge of the subject throws more light on the question. Briefly then for purposes of the land revenue Kauṭalya divides the whole country (*jānapada*) into four districts, and classifies the villages as the first, second and third order.