History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.282.5

v4.c62.282.5

3 Kauṭilya declares that an ordinary dūta should get ten *paṇas* for a journey of one *yojana* and twice the wages for each yojana up to one hundred. A yojana acc. to Kauṭ. himself (II. 20) is equal to 8000 *dhanus* (acc. to another reading 4000 *dhanus*), a dhanus being equal to four aratnis (each aratni being 24 aṅgulas). So taking the highest figure a yojana was at the most about 9 or 10 miles (or only 4½ or five miles according to the other reading). To hold that 10 silver paṇas were allowed to an ordinary dūta for going even ten miles (which he could cover in half a day or less) would be too much. Hence also the paṇas in Kauṭ. V. 3 are only copper ones. When once it is settled that the paṇas are of copper, it easily follows that the salaries in paṇas were monthly. Artisans and craftsmen were, acc. to Kauṭ., to get 120 paṇas. If this were yearly, they would get only 10 paṇas a month, while, according to Manu quoted above, even the lowest menial was to get a paṇa a day. Therefore 120 paṇas (of copper) were the monthly salary of an artisan. A monthly salary is more natural and practical than a yearly one. Other ancient writers like Śaṅkha-Likhita (in Rājanītiprakāśa p. 252) contemplate a monthly salary for soldiers (viz. two suvarṇas a month).¹⁶⁶ From the Nasik Inscription No. 12 (E. I. Vol. VIII.