Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India c8.37

c8.37

It is evident from the study of the *Arthaśāstra*²³ that the state fully realised the importance of sea routes and to manage them properly it appointed the Superintendent of Shipping (*naukādhyaksha*) who was in charge of ocean going ships (*samudrasaṁyāna*) and boats sailing on rivers and their mouths, lakes etc.