Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c5.t3.94

c5.t3.94

What then was the position of the *Seṭṭhi* (mod. *Seṭh*) who constantly figures in the stories? Certainly, it was very high and respectable both in the Court and outside.⁹ The title *seṭṭhi* (*Śreṣṭhin* : Best : Chief) itself, rendered as "Treasurer" without much justification, may possibly imply headship or a representative character over some class of industry or trading.¹⁰ Fick is probably right in alluding to him as a representative of the Commercial Community.¹¹ The word surely implied an office (*thāna*) held during life: it was hereditary.¹ He appears to have a double role—that of an official and a rich trader. In his official capacity he attends to the king (*rājupaṭṭhāna*) daily.² He takes formal permission of the king when he wants to renounce the world³ or give away his wealth to charity.⁴