rious intention of the Mahajans in going to the fields and raising disputes, you would never have compared with the going of the Mahajans to the fields, the punishment of the poor with Shamchand resembling the tortures which Lakshman the son of Sumitra, suffered by the Sakti-sela,[1] while they are without food. [The Mahajans' going to the fields and your torturing with Shamchand the starving poor—the Lakshmans (sons of Sumitra) hit by Sakti-sela,—are not comparable.]
Wood. Very well, explain it to me. There must be some reason why these fools speak to us of every thing else; but of the Mahajans they don't say a single word.
Gopi. Honored Sir, these debtors, whatever sum of money they require for the whole year, they take from the Mahajans, and that quantity of rice, which is necessary for them for that time, they also take from their creditors. [These debtors take from the Mahajans whatever sum of money they require for the whole year, and it is from the Mahajans again that they take whatever quantity of rice they need]. At the end of the year, the debtors clear their debts either by selling the tobacco, sugar-cane, sesamum, and other things which they have, and then giving the sum collected to their creditors with the interest on the sum for the time; or by giving those very articles according to the market price: and of the corn which grows, they send to the Mahajans' houses, a part half-prepared. That, which remains, proves sufficient for the expenses of the family for three or four months. If through famine or any improper expenses of the debtors, there fall any arrears in their supplies, the remainder of the debt is carried into the new account-book. Then, by and by, the remainder is filled up. The Mahajans never bring an action against their debtors; consequently the falling into arrears appears to them, as it
- ↑ Lakshman was the brother of Rama. When they were gone to make war with Ravana of Lanka (Ceylon), in a certain battle, Lakshman suffered very much by the Sakti-sela (the name of a superior grenade in a battle.)
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