In the urbanizing society of the Mahajanapadas era, the category of Setthis emerged as a powerful social force. What was the exact operational definition of a Setthi?

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In Pali canonical sources, the Setthi represents the apex of the urban mercantile boom. Moving past retail shop-keeping, Setthis were elite financiers who controlled major wholesale trade caravans traversing the subcontinent, provided interest-bearing institutional loans to states, and held direct access to royal treasuries due to their immense liquidity.

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