Hindu Administrative Institutions c9.s5.8

c9.s5.8

The treasury and the store-house were, it can be presumed, under the management of the Sannidhāta. A treasury consists of deposits of gold, of useful and valuable materials built by loyal servants, pearls and gems earned according to *dharma* by predecessors, undiminished by unexpected expenditure.² Jayaswal speaks of an exchequer under the ministry during the Vedic period and thinks the Vedic Ratnins were connected with it. If he is right, then Kauṭalya’s system is certainly an improved one. From the *Arthaśāstra* we see the treasury of the Mauryas contained pearls from the Pāṇḍya and Kerala countries, from Persia and the Himalayas, gems (*maṇi*) of different sizes and value from the Vindhyas and Malaya mountains, diamonds of various kinds from Kalinga, Kośala, Benares, and coral from the isle of Yavanas.¹ There came also perfumes of different varieties, furs and fabrics of several kinds, produced in different parts of India, besides minted coins of silver and copper (*rūpyarūpa* and *tāmrarūpa*). To the storehouse (*koṣṭhāgāra*) came the agricultural produce of crown lands and other Government dues received in kind. Besides grains, a number of varieties of oil, sugar, pungents, salt etc., are mentioned. It is said that half of them was utilized in the shape of allowances to the members of the royal family and their dependents. The remaining half was held in reserve to meet unexpected expenditure due to calamities like famine. The Sannidhāta had thus a first-hand knowledge of the total income and expenditure of the state. He was expected to have records of income and expenditure running over a hundred years, so that whenever questioned, he could place on the table records showing the exact balance at any given period.² It was hence his duty to frame budgets which would show a desirable balance at the end of the year.³