The prinicples of taxation in ancient India: In Sanskrit from Manusmriti



Manusmṛti (Sanskrit: मनुस्मृति), is an ancient legal text, just one among the many dharmashastrAs. It is attributed to Manu, the primordial lawgiver. Dharma encompasses ideas such as duty, rights, character, vocation, religion, customs, and all behavior considered appropriate, correct, or morally upright. Manusmriti codifies many aspects of daily practice and conduct. Here is a couplet describing the principle of taxation from the section on tax in the Manusmriti.

 यथा अल्पाल्पम् अदन्त्याद्यं वार्योको वत्स षट्पदाः
तथा अल्पाल्पो ग्रहीतव्यो राष्ट्राद् राज्ञाब्दीकः करः

As little by little, the leech, the calf, and the bee extract their food, so little by little should the state extract the annual royal taxes

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Phrases of Benediction or Blessing in Sanskrit; From Kaldiasa

Ever wonder how the elders would come up with a Sanskrit couplet in blessing when someone asks for their blessing. Do you wish you were able to come up with a short blessing in Sanskrit for various occasions? Here are some phrases of benediction or blessing in Sanskrit. Most of these are from Kalidasa's Abhigyana Shakuntalam. दीर्घायुष्मा न् भव May you have a long life. दीर्घसुमङगली भव May your remain a married woman for very long! ययातेरिव र्शर्मिष्ठा भर्तुः बहुमता भव Like Sharmishtha was for Yayati, may you be the beloved of your husband To a pregnant woman: वीर प्रसविनी भव May you give birth to a child who will be a warrior To a young and illustrious  man: वत्स चिरं जीव | पृथ्वीं पालय | Son may you live long and rule the world. वत्स अप्रतिरथो भव Son be an unrivaled warrior To a young woman who seeks  blessings along with her husband and son: वत्से, आखण्डल समो  भर्ता,  जयन्त प्रतिमः सुतः आशिरन्या न ते योग्या पौलोमी  
Read more

Nine gems of the Sundarakanda: Praise to Hanuman when he slays Simhika the demon who emerges from the sea to stop him.

Hanuman leaps across the ocean to reach Lanka, unstoppable by any obstacle. Simhika a demoness arises from the ocean with the intent of devouring him. She immobilized his shadow and hindered his movement.  He greatly increased the size of his body prompting Simhika to open her mouth wide. He then quickly contracted his body entered her mouth and destroyed her entrails with his sharp nails. He emerged destroying simhika and resumed his flight. All the creatures in the sky gathered to sing Hanuman's praise thus: यस्य त्वेतानि चत्वारि वानरेन्द्र  यथा तव | धृतिर्दृष्टिर्मतिर्दाक्ष्यं  स कर्मसु न सीदति || (सॊमाय) yasya tvetAni catvAri vAnarendra yatha tava  | DhritirdRShTirmatirdAkshyam  sa karmasu na sIdati || 5-1-198/216 (Moon) यस्य= he who, जिसका   तु = तो; एतानि चत्वारि= these four, यह चार;  वानरेन्द्र = o! prince among the apes,  यथा तव = as is yours , जैसे आपका है ; धृति= courage , धैर्य;  दृष्टि= vision, दूरदर्शिता;  मति = wisdom, दाक्ष्यं = skill, दक्षता, कुशलता ;  स= h
Read more

Nine gems of Sundarakanda: Hanuman's emerges from his despair in not finding Sita

Hanuman had searched everywhere in RavanA's palace for Sita, to no avail. He despaired at the thought of returning from Lanka with no word of Sita. What would he say to all those on the other shore who were eagerly awaiting word of Sita. He emerges from his despair with these inspiring words: अनिर्वेदः श्रियोमूलम् अनिर्वेदो  परं सुखम् | अनिर्वेदो  हि सततं सर्वार्थेषु   प्रवर्तकः || anirvēdaḥ śriyō mūlam anirvēdaḥ paraṁ sukham | anirvēdō hi satataṁ sarvārthēṣu pravartakaḥ || 5-12-10 (Mars) अनिर्वेदः= non-despair, self -confidence, श्रियो= happiness, prosperity, यश;  सततं= always, सदैव ;   सर्व  अर्थेषु = in every purpose; प्रवर्तकः= cause, originator, प्रवर्तक "Non-despair and self-confidence is the root of achievement, happiness and prosperity. Absence of despondency is the greatest comfort. Self reliance always is indeed the promoter in all matters."
Read more