Question

This is what Prabhavati Gupta states in her inscription: Prabhavati Gupta … commands the gramakutumbinas (householders/peasants living in the village), Brahmanas and others living in the village of Danguna … “Be it known to you that on the twelfth (lunar day) of the bright (fortnight) of Karttika, we have, in order to increase our religious merit, donated this village with the pouring out of water, to the Acharya (teacher) Chanalasvamin … You should obey all (his) commands … We confer on (him) the following exemptions typical of an agrahara …(this village is) not to be entered by soldiers and policemen; (it is) exempt from (the obligation to provide) grass, (animal) hides as seats, and charcoal (to touring royal officers); exempt from (the royal prerogative of) purchasing fermenting liquors and digging (salt); exempt from (the right to) mines and khadira trees; exempt from (the obligation to supply) flowers and milk; (it is donated) together with (the right to) hidden treasures and deposits (and) together with major and minor taxes …” This charter has been written in the thirteenth (regnal) year. (It has been) engraved by Chakradasa.

What were the things produced in the village?

Answer 1

According to the source, the copper-plate inscription of Prabhavati Gupta regarding the land grant of Danguna village notes that villagers produced or processed several local resources and commodities.

The key commodities produced in the village are as follows:

• Agricultural & Natural Produce: Grass, flowers, and milk.
• Forest Resources: Charcoal and wood from Khadira trees.
• Animal Products: Animal hides used for making seats.
• Processed/Mined Goods: Fermenting liquors, salt (obtained through digging), and minerals extracted from local mines.

These items were typically supplied to touring royal officers but were exempted under this agrahara grant, indicating a self-sufficient rural economy.