Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s1: III Capital
Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c9.s1
- Language
- English
III Capital
c9.s1.1
Capital includes all wealth other than land intended for further production of wealth. Wealth production would be negligible and primitive without the help of capital.
c9.s1.2
In those days large scale production was unknown and there was no idea of what is called now the co-operative movement.
c9.s1.3
The state took away a pretty heavy share of the national wealth in the form of taxes, fines etc. and the state capital was not invested for purpose of industrial development¹ The only people who possessed capital were a few rich tradesmen, the *dhanavantas*, who owned one crore of silver, gems, pearls, corals and jewels inherited from their father and forefathers, and the *ibhas*² These people also either spent their surplus on luxuries and unproductive purposes like alms-giving or hoarded the wealth³
c9.s1.4
¹ P B I., p 211.
c9.s1.5
² Vya Bhā 1, p. 131 a.
c9.s1.6
³ Cf. Uvā. 1, p 6.