Hindu Administrative Institutions c9.s1.108

c9.s1.108

4. Goldsmiths and similar professionists would naturally earn by illegitimate and dishonest means. Manu characterizes them as ‘प्रकाशवञ्चकाः’ ¹ ‘deceivers in open daylight.’ With ability to pay, the members of these classes would try to ‘shift’ the burdens of taxation on to the others. Kauṭalya could not tolerate this and hence recommended the use of partner-informants to deprive them of their illegitimate earnings.