Hindu Administrative Institutions c9.s1.57

c9.s1.57

Bühler translates it as ‘*ad valorem* duty’. And again just duties are recommended on other marketable goods.¹ The recommendation of Viṣṇu is more moderate: one-tenth of profits on indigenous articles, and one-twentieth on imported ones.² Śukrāchārya’s rates vary from one-sixteenth to one-thirty-second.³ It would thus appear that state regulation of commerce was progressive in character and prevented much of the economic distress which would otherwise have disturbed the even course of ancient Hindu administration.