The correct option is (b).
Explanation
In the agrarian society that developed during the later Vedic and post-Vedic periods (often reflected in Pali texts and early Buddhist literature), the village economy was stratified based on land ownership. The term Dasa-karmakara refers to a specific class of individuals within this economic structure who occupied the lowest rung of the agrarian hierarchy.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect.
The Dasa-karmakara were not independent farmers. Independent farmers, including those with small landholdings, were typically referred to as Grihapatis (or Gahapatis in Pali texts). The Grihapatis owned the land and employed others to work on it if necessary. The Dasa-karmakara were characterized specifically by their lack of land ownership. - Statement 2 is Correct.
The term is a compound of two words: Dasa (slaves or bondsmen) and Karmakara (hired laborers). Since they did not own land, they were economically dependent on the landowning class (Gahapatis). They earned their livelihood by providing labor on the fields and in the households of others.
Key Takeaway:
The Dasa-karmakara were landless agricultural laborers and slaves who worked on the fields of landowners (Gahapatis) for survival, distinct from independent peasant farmers.