Book One : 10 Yrs Para based

1. Chapter 2 : Kings, Farmers and Towns

   1. Sudarshan Lake : 1. Kings / State used to sponsor Irrigation to increase production. Continuous efforts by different dynasties show importance of the agri infrastructure 2. Evidence of Welfare state 3. Strategy adopted by kings to get support for improving popular notion.

   2. What the king’s officials did (2) : 1. Shows how imperial bureaucracy managing the resources and economic activities. 2. Strict Centralised control over production and economy. 3. Tells about the officials and their duties to manage local affairs with judicial powers.

2. Chapter 3 : Kinship, Caste and Class

   1. Why kinfolks quarrelled (2) : 1. It gives an Idea about conflicting issues of succession rights based on birth and complex issues of succession in patrilineal society. 2. It also tells that only birthrights was not the criteria but the popular support of people played an important role in choosing Kings. 3. Conflicting criteria - Dhritarashtra was ineligible because he was blind so Pandu became king. after death of Pandu, Dhritarashtra was chosen...because pandavas were young and can not become king. If second time Dhritarashtra can be chosen for the throne why he was denied previously ?

   2. Draupadi's Marriage : 1. Most challenging issue - There are many explanations of Draupadi , marrying 5 Pandavas. Historians are divided - Different views 1. Polyandry was prevalent in ruling elites in past and since text gives multiple explanations it seems it was not supported by Brahmanical system. 2. Other Historians argue that Polyandry was and is prevalent in the Himalayan region despite the Brahmanical system was against it. 3. Still others think that it was adopted during tough times as in war time when males were in short supply.

   3. A mother’s advice : 1. It tells us how women were perceived. In decision making their role was limited. Even if they treated with honour they were not in position to influence the policies. We can see in other sources like draupadi's questions or Draupadi's marriage that decision makers were always males.

   4. The wealthy Shudra : This is an interesting piece of primary source. However Manusmriti and other Brahmanical Books created social divides based on birth, we see in this text that the actual divider is the access to wealth. If a sudra was wealthy, the varna system would have been healthy. This is also evident in the Non-Kshatriya Kings who were tolerated from Mauryans ( Some sources tell that Mauryas were of low origin) to Kushana and Shakas who were Mlecchas and Shudra but because of wealth and power were accepted as Kings.

3. Chapter 4 : Thinkers, beliefs and Buildings

   1. Buddhism in Practice: Lord Buddha emphasised on being ethical and Humane with Servants, Monks, Elders, Animals, Wife, Parents and children. Why ? Because he says that this world wasn't created by some divine power but by us - Humans, so only we can make it a better place by helping each other.