2021, Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part C

author(s)
Mridusmita Bharadwaj and Dr. Kameshwar Shukla

abstract
The bhāṇas of the Caturbhāṇī comprehend bulks of references manifesting different dimensions of the co-existing society. The four bhāṇas i.e. PadmaprābhṛtakaDhūrtaviṭasaṁvāda,Ubhayābhicārikā and Pādatāḍitaka of the collection Caturbhāṇī provide the important information of the society of a particular period regarding the popular beliefs, customs, livelihood etc. The Pādatāḍitaka mentions the city named Sārvabhauma, it was the alternate name known for Ujjayinī. The bhāṇa has portrayed the city Ujjayinī as a flourishing city and a centre of trade and commerce. Ujjayinī possessed a booming economy that is evident from the portrayal of trade and commercial activities, transportation and communication systems, lifestyles of the city dwellers etc. The present paper tries to analyse the socio-economic conditions of the society as depicted in the Pādatāḍitaka Bhāṇa. An attempt has been made to examine different factors that reflect the socio-economic conditions of the concurrent society viz., city life, trade and commerce, transport, occupations as prevailed during the age of the Pādatāḍitaka bhāṇa.