The Origin of Aksayanivi and the Historical Context of the Arthasastra Convergences of Early Indian Epigraphic and Literary Data

Martini, Kelsey (2022): The Origin of Aksayanivi and the Historical Context of the Arthasastra Convergences of Early Indian Epigraphic and Literary Data. In: Indo-Iranian Journal, Vol. 65, No. 2: pp. 144-169

Abstract

This paper has two purposes. The first is to provide an accurate definition and history of the origin of the Sanskrit term aksayanivi. The standard scholarly translation of this term, which is encountered almost exclusively in inscriptions, is permanent endowment and has been established since the mid-19th century. It will be shown that the usual translations of both members of the compound-aksaya as permanent and nivi as endowment-are at the least misleading. This will be accomplished through a discussion of the occurrences of the terms in the Adhyaksapracara Activities of Superintendents (Book 11 of the Kautilya Arthasastra), with a particular focus on KA 2.6.27 which contains an explicit definition of nivi. The second purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the Adhyaksapracara, the largest and most perplexing chapter of the KA, utilizes a technical vocabulary which points to a specific context of production. This will be done through an examination of a series of fiscal and administrative technical terms which occur in the Adhyaksapracara and which emerge in the Indian epigraphic record at around the time period and geographic region commonly given for the composition of the text (ca. 1st c. BCE-1St C. CE Western Maharashtra/Southern Gujarat).

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Cultural Studies > Department of Asian Studies
• Subjects: 900 History and geography > 900 Geschichte
• ISSN: 0019-7246
• Language: English