The stories in Tales of Ancient India, compiled and translated by J.A.B van Buitenen, reveal the ideals and values of Indian society during the 1st through the 7th centuries AD. During the period between 200 BC and 300 AD, merchants in India experienced a period of great prosperity. This prosperity continued through the Gupta period, from 300 to 700 AD. During the Gupta period, Indian merchants became more involved with trade in central and south-east Asia, contributing to the increased overall prosperity in northern India (Thapar 298-99). The rise of the merchant class caused the artha, which van Buitenen translates artha as “‘profit,’ ‘wealth’, ‘success,’ and ‘goal,’” to compete with other values namely dharma, or virtue, and kama, or…show more content… For example, in “The City of Gold”, Saktideva faced tumultuous trials in pursuit of the City of Gold; he endured shipwrecks, was swallowed by a large fish, and was nearly sucked into a bottomless whirlpool. However, in the end, Saktideva was rewarded for his efforts; he was given the opportunity to live “in his city which blazed with the golden splendor of its mansions . . . in the constant company of his four loving queens . . . he tasted the perfection of happiness” (van Buitenen 101). In this story, merchants too face great peril in their pursuit of wealth; one harrowing experience described in the story was: “One moment the craft was hurled down, only to rise up again after an instant . . . Then the ship jumped in the air and the next moment, filled with the agonized cries of the merchants aboard and collapsing under the burden, burst asunder” (van Buitenen 87). Although dangerous, these ventures had the potential for great reward as demonstrated by a merchant who upon returning after a long absence, told his son, “‘I am rich, son, and I am getting richer still! Look at the ship I have brought, chockful of gold!’” (van Buitenen
