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THE SILK-WEAYERS OF MANDSAUR IN A SOCJOLOGICAL PERSPECTIYE    221

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V.16. Some of them became very competent in ihe science of archery, (in which the twanging of the bow is) pleasing lo the ear; others, devotcd themselves to hundreds of excellcnt achievements, some (became) acquainted with wonderful tales; and others, unassuming in (their) modesty (and) devoted to discourses of the true religion, (became) able to say much that was free from harshncss (and yet was) salutary.

V.17. Some excelled in their own business (of silk-weaving); and by others, possessing self-confidence, the science of astrology was maslered, and others, couragcous in war, even today, eflect by force the destruction of (their) encmies.

V.18. Similarly others, wise, possessed of allraclive wives (and) belonging to a famous and high lineage, shine; others, by actions proper to their lineage kccping a vow of truthfulncss, carelul to oblige those that are attachcd to them with the accompanimcnt of conlldcnce, are skillcd in conferring favours upon (their) intimatcs.

V.19. (And so) the guild shincs gloriously all around through those who are of this sort, and through others who have overcome their attachment for worldly objecls; and are givcn to works of piety; who are soft in their mind and are possessed of much goodness, and are (thus) very good in an earthly habitation.

This graphic description of the diversified activities and remarkable accomplishmcnts of the Mandsaur silk-weavers is bcautifully concluded by the poet in verse 21 thus: “(so) the whole of this region of the carth, is adorned through them, as (if) with a silken garment, agreeable to the touch, variegatcd with divisions of dilfcrent colours, (and) pleasing to the eye. ”

1.4. We have noted above that the silk-weavers were organised into a guild which gave them a corporate identity and il is elear they were so organised even before coming to Mandsaur. The poet has consistently used the word śrcnT to indicate this corporate character of their society. Apart from the verse 19 above, the term occurs in verses 29, 37 and 44. The fact that the guild had acquired considerable weallh through the craft of silk-weaving is fairly elear in verse 29 in which after referring to the prosperous rule of Bandhuvarman, the poet rccords:

“A grand (and) incomparable tempie of the (Sun) was caused to be