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The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c13.s4: Vārttāśāstras

The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c13.s4

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Vārttāśāstras

c13.s4.1

We shall now enumerate some of the *Vārttā* documents in manuscript or in print. Be it observed at once that no reference to absolute or relative chronology is at the present moment possible. They are being mentioned at random as embodiments of Hindu interest in materialism and materialistic literature.

c13.s4.2

Let us take a more or less generic work first. In the South Indian work in Malayalam entitled *Manavala-Nārāyaṇa-śatakam*²⁶ there is a verse on the honour of merchants (*vaisiyar perumai*). The merchants are advised to conduct their business skilfully. They should not hanker after high rates of profit. An even and correct balance is to be used in connection with every customer. No loans are to be offered to the dishonest even if they should offer a collateral. On the other hand, loans on personal security may be offered to the honest. In book keeping not even the eighth part of a mustard seed should be allowed by way of mistake. Public measures ought to be assisted by merchants even to the extent of a crore (of the monetary unit).

c13.s4.3

²⁶ Taylor: *A Catalogue Raisonnée of Oriental Manuscripts in the Library of the late College of Fort St. George* (Madras 1857), Vol. III, p. 15.

c13.s4.4

A separate stanza is given over to the *vellarher perumai* (honour of agriculturists). The agricultural work done by the *vellarher* (farmers) is to maintain the prayers of Brāhmaṇas, the strength of kings, the profits of merchants and the welfare of all. Charity, donations, the enjoyments of domestic life, connubial happiness, homage to the gods, the *śāstras*, the *Vedas*, the *Purāṇas* and all other books, truth, reputation, renown, the very being of the gods, things of good report or integrity, the good order of castes, manual skill,—all these things come to pass by the merit or efficacy of the *vellarher’s* plough. This sort of what, to use a Marxist category, may be described as the “agricultural interpretation of history” can be traced back, as we have seen, to the *Atharva Veda’s* hymns on the cow, the draft-ox, etc. (IV, ii). We must not, however, read into Indian texts the monistic determinism of Marxist economics or sociology. Hindus, used as they are to heinotheism, are fundamentally pluralists in as much as they can appreciate, admire and deify any and every force for the time being as a supreme influence in life and thought.

c13.s4.5

We shall now deal with the specialized *śāstras* on different branches of *Vārttā*.

c13.s4.6

Several treatises on *loha* [iron and other (?) metals] are to be found among the manuscripts in Sanskrit.²⁷ One is known as *Loharatnākara* (Ocean of Metals), another as *Lohārṇava* (Ocean of Metals) and a third as *Lohaśāstra* (Science of Metals).

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²⁷ Aufrecht: *Catalogus Catalogorum*, Part I, (Leipzig, 1891) p. 546.

c13.s4.8

A South-Indian Sanskrit treatise on gems and their qualities found in Tanjore is the *Ratnaparīkṣā*.²⁸ Agastya’s *Maṇiparīkṣā*,²⁹ (Testing of precious stones), the *Ratnasamuchchaya*,³⁰ Paśupati's *Ratnamālā*³¹ and others may be singled out. The section on gems in the *Yukti-kalpataru* has also to be noted.

c13.s4.9

²⁸ A. C. Burnell: *Classified Index to the Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Palace of Tanjore prepared for the Madras Government* (1880), p. 141.

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²⁹ Oppert: Aufrecht: *Catalogus*, Part I, p. 240.

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³⁰ Aufrecht: Part I, p. 464.

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³¹ Rajendra Lal Mitra; *Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts* (Calcutta 1871), Vol. I.

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Parāśara's *Kriṣisamgraha* (Agriculture) is available in print.³² A treatise named *Kriṣviṣaya*³³ is described as a guide to agriculture. The first few verses quoted in the catalogue are identical with those of *Parāśara's Kriṣi-samgraha* published at Calcutta in 1915. But there is a discrepancy towards the end. A South Indian Sanskrit work on agriculture is *Śasyānanda*.³⁴

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³² L. D. Barnett: *A Supplementary Catalogue of Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit Books in the Library of the British Museum* (acquired during 1892-1906), London.

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³³ Rajendra Lal Mitra; *Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts* (Calcutta 1871) Vol. I, p. 179.

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³⁴ Oppert: *List of Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Private Libraries of South India*, Vol. II, p. 371.

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Horticultural treatises³⁵ are plentiful in Southern India, for instance, *Pādapavivakṣā* (Nourishment of plants,) *Vrikṣadohada* (Treatment of plants), *Vrikṣāyur-veda* (Treatment of plant diseases).

c13.s4.18

³⁵ Oppert: *List of Sanskrit Mss.* (Madras) Vol. pp. 223, 371.

c13.s4.19

Gangārām Mahadakar's *Ārāmādi-pratiṣṭhāpad-dhati*³⁶ is a treatise on gardens.

c13.s4.20

³⁶ Aufrecht: *Catalogus Catalogorum*, Part I, (Leipzig 1891) p. 53.

c13.s4.21

Nārada's *Mayūra Chitraka*,³⁷ *Meghamālā* or *Ratna-mālā* gives indications of coming rains, famine or plenty from the appearance of the atmosphere.

c13.s4.22

³⁷ Aufrecht: *Catalogus Catalogorum*, Part I, (Leipzig, 1891) p. 432.

c13.s4.23

On cattle we come across treatises like *Gosūtra* and *Gośānti*³⁸ etc. *Gośāstra*, a treatise on cattle, and *Govaidyaśāstra* (On cattle disease or veterinary topics) are also mentioned.

c13.s4.24

³⁸ Aufrecht: *Catalogus Catalogorum*, Part I, (Leipzig 1891 p. 169. Oppert: *List of Sanskrit Mss. in the Private Libraries of Southern India* (Madras) Vol. I, p. 533.

c13.s4.25

That the manuscripts or printed works mentioned here belong to a period previous to the thirteenth century is not beyond doubt. Most probably many of them do not. But they are being given here as suggestive specimens relating to the formative and early periods of these sciences.

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