Indian Epigraphical Glossary c6.729

c6.729

bali (IE 8-5; HRS), voluntary gift (afterwards, compulsory contribution) and tribute from the subjects as indicated by Vedic literature; later, tax in general as suggested by the standard lexicons; king’s grain share, identical with bhāga but different from kara according to the Arthaśāstra, but not the Junagadh inscription of Rudradāman (cf. bali-śulka-bhāga in line 14). The Rummindei inscription of Aśoka also distinguishes between bali and bhāga and seems to identify bali with kara (or with pilgrims’ tax). See Select Inscriptions, pp. 71, 173.