History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.341.6

v4.c62.341.6

It appears from Pāṇini and the commentary Kāśikā thereon that certain craftsmen were attached hereditarily to the village, were probably paid a certain part of the crop produce yearly for their services and corresponded to the modern village servants (called the twelve *balutedārs*) in the Deccan. For an account of these *balutedārs*, vide Grant Duff's 'History of the Marathas' (Bombay ed. of 1863, vol. I. pp. 23-27). For example, Pāṇini (VI. 2. 62) teaches the accent of a compound word formed from 'grāma' with another word denoting 'śilpin' (craftsman), such as grāmanāpita (village barber) or grāmakulāla (village potter), which are two examples given by the Kāśikā on this *sūtra*. From Pāṇini V. 4. 95 ('grāmakauṭābhyāṃ ca takṣṇaḥ') it may be inferred that a carpenter also was a village servant as in modern times in the Deccan. Bṛhaspati¹⁹⁶ contains very important information about local administration in villages. A compact formed among villages, guilds and corporations ( *gaṇa* ) is called a *samaya* (agreement); such an agreement must be observed in times of distress and for acts of dharma. Two, three or five persons shall be appointed as advisers of groups; their advice shall be followed by the villagers, the guilds, the corporations and others.