4. Labour in ancient India

While dwelling upon the social conditions it has been already pointed out how that class of people who VhCP) 1. ibid, 87. 2. Ibid., 138, 215. 3. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 198. 4. Ibid., 53.

397 earned their livelihood consisted of two types, viz. the hired labourers and slaves. Slavery: Many people became slaves at their own volition because of varied reasons 1. A maidservant in the house of a Brahmin has been described as pessa and had the status of an unlawful wife. Her son was not given the status of other lawful sons of the Brahmin². The slaves (dasi-dasa) probably could be purchased ³ and had to work hard to earn their subsistence + Hired Labour : 3 Hired labour has also been referred to. The salary was called bhatti Viniyaka, who was a trader's son, served in the house of Dhana Satthavaha. As he paid servant refused to be a slave, Dhana gave him two garments and treated him as a member of his family. During his service Viniyaka first of all looked after the garden (aramujjana) then the shop of scents, and afterwards worked as a person 1. A trader became a slave as a result of a wager to prove his monetory superiority over another merchant; Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa,116-17. 2. Ibid., 320. 4. Ibid., 172. 3. Ibid. 144° 5. Ibid., 50.

398 in charge of house-hold store in Dhana's house (gihabhandarasala).