The Mauryan Polity c10.s3.t1.1

c10.s3.t1.1

The first committee interested itself in the promotion of industrial arts. The *Arthaśāstra* in more than one place refers to the work of artists and artisans. They were expected to work for a day in a fortnight for the king. This enabled them to commute their payment to the state into their manual labour.¹ There is a special chapter² containing regulations affording protection to artisans. It is said that artisans shall carry on their business according to the engagement in respect of time, place and nature of the work. Such of those who put off their work under the plea that there was no definite engagement as regards time, place, and the nature of work were not only deprived of ¼ of their wages, but also punished with a fine equal to two times the prices of their labour except when they were in trouble, or visited by a calamity. Besides they compensated the loss of damage to the employer. Those who engaged themselves in contravention of definite orders forfeited their wages in addition to their paying a fine equal to two times the amount of their price of labour.³ It is further said that such of those who were responsible for lowering the quality of the work by an artisan and who interfered in their transactions were to be severely punished with fines.⁴ When we see the excellent standard to which artistic skill was developed in the days of Aśoka, what with lofty edifices in brick, wood and stone, massive embankments, handling of monoliths, construction of chambers, a profusion of spirited bas-reliefs, attractive statues of men and animals, masterpieces of some fine carvings, it is reasonable to take the view that Aśoka continued the patronage and protection of artisans like his grandfather.