The Mauryan Polity c8.s3.t15: The Treasury
The Mauryan Polity c8.s3.t15
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The Treasury
c8.s3.t15.1
To the treasury of the Mauryas came pearls from the Pāṇḍya and Kerala States, from Persia and the Himālaya regions, gems of varied value from the Vindhya and the Malaya mountains, diamonds from Kaliṅga, Kośala and Benares and coral from the Isle of the Yavanas.³ To the capital came also varieties of sandal, perfumes of all sorts, different kinds of skins from the Himālayan forests and of woollen blankets and other fabrics including silks and fibres. These demonstrate the richness of the treasury under the Mauryas. The store-house was equally rich in grains of different kinds, varieties of oil, sugar, pungents, salts and other necessaries of life. Both the treasury and the storehouse maintained records of income and expenditure running over a hundred years.¹ The office of the Sannidhātā was again engaged in preparing budgets and presenting the same. The accounts were systematically maintained under three heads: opening balance (*vartamāna*), balance on hand (*paryuṣita*) and windfalls (*anyajāta*).²
c8.s3.t15.2
³ Bk. II, ch. 11.
c8.s3.t15.3
¹ Bk. II, ch. 5.
c8.s3.t15.4
² Bk. II, ch. 6. The terms may also mean 'current,' 'arrears' and 'miscellaneous'.
Linked texts (1)
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit