Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India c8.53

c8.53

In the Mauryan period the Director of Trade (*paṇyādhyaksha*)³⁷ had important functions to perform. He had good relations with merchants. It was his duty to determine the quantity of the material coming through land and waterways and their consumption. Taking into consideration the rise and fall in the prices of the articles, he determined whether they should be sold, bought, distributed, or stored. According to the conditions prevailing in the market, he collected goods, distributed them in far off places and determined their prices. He stored the articles manufactured in the workshops of the king, but he distributed the imported articles in various markets. All these articles were obtainable by the people at fair prices. Merchants were forbidden to make excessive profit. The monopoly in the trade of common goods was strictly forbidden. The Controller of Trade encouraged those importing goods. The loaders on ships, sailors and importers of foreign goods were allowed to go duty free. Foreign traders could not be sued in courts for their debts, but if they happened to be the members of the guild then they could be dragged to the court.