Agriculture, Trade, Commerce and Taxation in Post-Vedic Literature: A Socio-Economic Study
ANUPAM MONDAL
Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Sanskrit,
University of Gour Banga, West Bengal
E-mail Id- anupammondal497@gmail.com
Abstract-
The Vedas provide evidence of the livelihood of people in ancient times. The study of Vedic literature reveals that agriculture was the first livelihood of people. Although the Vedas discuss the agricultural economic system and trade of ancient India, the post-Vedic scriptures like Manusaṃhitā, Yājñavalkyasaṃhitā and Arthaśāstra are also shed light on the agricultural trade and tax system in detail. It is clear from the study of post-Vedic scriptures that agriculture played an important role in the economic development of the society at that time. The traces of the agricultural system found at the Vedic stage can be seen in the post-Vedic scriptures as a sign of its modernity. The monarchy system is found of that time. The king was the head in the society. The king kept an eye on the advantages and disadvantages of people in agriculture, trade and commerce, etc. and collected taxes according to the rules. In agriculture, the king helped the farmers in various ways, coordinated between buyers and sellers in trade and commerce, preserved the goods, determined some rules for doing business abroad, and exempted poor traders and Brahmins from taxes. In this research paper, an attempt has been made to thoroughly shed light on the issues related to agricultural system, trade and taxation as described in the post-Vedic scriptures.
Keywords- Ancient, Agriculture, Scriptures, Monarchy, Trade, Taxation.
DOI link – https://doi.org/10.69758/GIMRJ/2510I10VXIIIP0001
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