State and Government in Ancient India c20.203

c20.203

The state claimed ownership in treasure troves also, either because it claimed to be the heir to heirless property or because it regarded them as similar in nature to the mineral yields, both being recovered from the bowels of the earth. If the treasure trove was discovered by a Brāhmaṇa, he was however allowed to take the whole of it; in the case of other persons, the finder was naturally permitted to have one half of the find and the state would take the other half.