The rapid and immense growth of heterodox movements like Buddhism and Jainism during the sixth century BCE was driven by socio-economic transformations. Which of the following selections captures a core catalyst accurately?

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The growth of cash commerce powered by punch-marked coins elevated the Vaishyas (traders and agriculturists) economically. However, orthodox Brahmanical texts ranked them third in the social hierarchy and condemned interest-bearing trade. Buddhism and Jainism rejected birth-based hierarchies and endorsed commerce and asset accumulation, earning massive patronage from wealthy merchants.

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