Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c21.6

c21.6

3 The economic condition of the people was not bad The country was rich and prosperous, flourished in trade and commerce. Yet the condition of the general masses cannot be said to have been ideal. There was sufficient to eat and sufficient to fulfil their simple needs People were luxury-loving and were fond of ornaments, clothes wreaths, flowers, perfumes, music, dancing dramas and singing The rich people possessed palatial buildings, married several women, paid large fees to courtesans, went out surrounded by servants and attendants in a gorgeous procession accompanied by damsels The middle class people too lived a life of luxury and made magnificent donations to the order The condition of poor people was deplorable They had to earn their livelihood with great difficulty They suffered most at the hands of money-lenders and from famines resulting from draught and pestilence