The Mauryan Polity c8.s3.t3.1

c8.s3.t3.1

Another source of revenue, next only in importance to the taxes connected with the land, is trade and commerce. The Kauṭalīyan state recognised the value of this unfailing source of revenue and hence endeavoured its best to encourage trade and commerce.¹ What we understand to-day by the nationalisation of industries was, to a great extent, realised in the Mauryan epoch. The state undertook manufactures and industries. State manufactories were established. These were in charge of the Superintendent of Commerce.² But private individual efforts and co-operative activities of guilds were not interfered with. Discrimination was used in the imposition of taxes on commerce. Foreign merchants were allowed a good deal of freedom. Illicit transactions (*vyavahāra*), misappropriation (*upabhoga*)³ and defalcation (*apahāra*) were severely dealt with. To this list of punishable offences were added the offence of tampering with weights and measures⁴ and offering forbidden and bad articles for sale in the market.⁵