Local Government in Ancient India c8.10

c8.10

² **श्रेष्ठी पात्रे रोचयत्येव यं कामयते तम्।** Sāyaṇa explains the passage thus: 'For that very reason (in this world) also a merchant prince, desirous of rendering acceptable a dependant of his to others refusing to own him, has nevertheless the power to enforce the grant to him of a worthy position by them, in spite of his disqualification due to violation of social rules.' (**श्रेष्ठी कश्चित् धनपतिः यं स्वकीयं भृत्यमितरैरनङ्गीकृतमपि सर्वेभ्यो रोचयितुं कामयते तं भृत्यमाचारहीनं पात्रे प्रतिग्रहयोग्यस्थाने बलात् सर्वेभ्यो रोचयत्येव**) Martin Haug translates the passages thus: 'Thus it comes that a chief favours with a draught from his goblet whom he likes.' Both these interpretations agree in ascribing to the chief much social power and influence, and the chief is considered by noted Vedic scholars to be the chief of a guild.