Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c15.119

c15.119

The city's learning and culture were represented by persons noted for their knowledge, their oratorical gifts, their spirituality, who were all given the highest honours and allowances for their maintenance (*Vidyā-Vākya-Dharma-Śūra* [XIII, 5]. We have already seen how religion and learning were endowed by grants of land made tax-free and in perpetuity (*adaṇḍa-karāṇi abhirūpadāyakāni*) by the State to their votaries named (1) *Ritvik*, (2) *Āchārya*, (3) *Purohita* and (4) *Śrotriya* [II. 1]. The State also bestowed stipends of honour (*pūjā-vetanāni*) upon the teachers of music (*Āchāryāḥ Gandharvāchāryāḥ*) and the men of learning (*vidyāvantah*) in the city whose services were always at the disposal of the public (*sarvopasthāyinaḥ*). The stipends were granted in accordance with merit (*yathārham*) [V. 3].