Kautilya's Arthashastra 2.26: Chapter 26 (Section 43): The Supervisor of Animal Slaughter

2.26.1

sūnādhyakṣaḥ pradiṣṭābhayānām abhayavanavāsināṃ ca mṛgapaśupakṣimatsyānāṃ bandhavadhahiṃsāyām uttamaṃ daṇḍaṃ kārayet, kuṭumbinām abhayavanaparigraheṣu madhyamam //

WHEN a person entraps, kills, or molests deer, bison, birds, and fish which are declared to be under State protection or which live in forests under State-protection (abhayáranya), he shall be punished with the highest amercement.

Householders trespassing in forest preserves shall be punished with the middlemost amercement.

2.26.2

apravṛttavadhānāṃ matsyapakṣiṇāṃ bandhavadhahiṃsāyāṃ pādonasaptaviṃśatipaṇam atyayaṃ kuryāt, mṛgapaśūnāṃ dviguṇam //

When a person entraps, kills, or molests either fish or birds that do not prey upon other animals, he shall be fined 26¾ panas; and when he does the same to deer and other beasts, he shall be fined twice as much.

2.26.3

pravṛttahiṃsānām aparigṛhītānāṃ ṣaḍbhāgaṃ gṛhṇīyāt, matsyapakṣiṇāṃ daśabhāgaṃ vādhikam, mṛgapaśūnāṃ śulkaṃ vādhikam //

Of beasts of prey that have been captured, the Superintendent shall take one-sixth; of fish and birds (of similar nature), he shall take one-tenth or more than one-tenth; and of deer and other beasts (mrigapasu), one-tenth or more than one-tenth as toll.

2.26.4

pakṣimṛgāṇāṃ jīvat ṣaḍbhāgam abhayavaneṣu pramuñcet //

One-sixth of live animals such as birds and beasts shall be let off in forests under State-protection.

2.26.5

sāmudrahastyaśvapuruṣavṛṣagardabhākṛtayo matsyāḥ sārasā nādeyās taṭākakulyodbhavā vā krauñcotkrośakadātyūhahaṃsacakravākajīvanjīvakabhṛṅga.rājacakoramattakokilamayūraśukamadanaśārikā vihārapakṣiṇo maṅgalyāś cānye 'pi prāṇinaḥ pakṣimṛgā hiṃsābādhebhyo rakṣyāḥ //

Elephants, horses or animals having the form of a man, bull or an ass living in oceans as well as fish in tanks, lakes, channels and rivers; and such game-birds as krauncha (a kind of heron), utkrosaka (osprey), dátyúha (a sort of cuckoo), hamsa (flamingo), chakraváka (a brahmany duck), jivanjívaka (a kind of pheasant), bhringarája (Lanius Malabaricus), chakora (partridge), mattakokila (cuckoo), peacock, parrot, and maina (madanasárika) as well as other auspicious animals, whether birds or beasts, shall be protected from all kinds of molestations.

2.26.6

rakṣātikrame pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ //

Those who violate the above rule shall be punished with the first amercement.

2.26.7

mṛgapaśūnām anasthimāṃsaṃ sadyohataṃ vikrīṇīran //

(Butchers) shall sell fresh and boneless flesh of beasts (mrigapasu) just killed.

2.26.8

asthimataḥ pratipātaṃ dadyuḥ //

If they sell bony flesh, they shall give an equivalent compensation (pratipákam).

2.26.9

tulāhīne hīnāṣṭaguṇam //

If there is any diminution in weight owing to the use of a false balance, they shall give eight times the diminution.

2.26.10

vatso vṛṣo dhenuś caiṣām avadhyāḥ //

Cattle such as a calf, a bull, or a milch cow shall not be slaughtered.

2.26.11

ghnataḥ pañcāśatko daṇḍaḥ, kliṣṭaghātaṃ ghātayataś ca //

He who slaughters or tortures them to death shall be fined 50 panas.

2.26.12

pariśūnam aśiraḥpādāsthi vigandhaṃ svayaṃmṛtaṃ ca na vikrīṇīran //

The flesh of animals which have been killed outside the slaughter-house (parisúnam), headless, legless and boneless flesh, rotten flesh, and the flesh of animals which have suddenly died shall not be sold. Otherwise a fine of 12 panas shall be imposed.

2.26.13

anyathā dvādaśapaṇo daṇḍaḥ //

2.26.14

duṣṭāḥ paśumṛgavyālā matsyaś cābhayacāriṇaḥ /
anyatra guptisthānebhyo vadhabandham avāpnuyuḥ //E

Cattle, wild beasts, elephants (vyala), and fish living in forests under State protection shall, if they become of vicious nature, be entrapped and killed outside the forest preserve.