The Mauryan Polity c8.s3.t4: Other items of income
The Mauryan Polity c8.s3.t4
- Language
- English
Other items of income
c8.s3.t4.1
The other category of income to the state comprising of those items arising from the State-owned properties like forests,⁴ wastelands including the public pasturage,⁵ land and ocean mines,⁶ treasure finds, the mintage,⁷ unclaimed properties, forced labour (*viṣṭi*), and fines of different descriptions for transgression and trespass of law. Added to these were the incomes collected by the excise department (*surādhyakṣa*),⁸ the department of gambling (*dyūta*)⁹ which was centralised lest the evil should spread widely, from the institution of prostitutes (*veśya*),¹ the department of slaughter-house,² and other miscellaneous taxes collected from religious and charitable endowments, heads of cattle, building sites (*vāstuka*), spoils of war, tributes, voluntary contributions and other several minor dues like *utsaṅga*, *pārśva*, for which there was no absolute and fixed rate.³ In cases of emergency extraordinary taxes and enhanced exactions (*praṇaya*) were collected.⁴ The resources of the rich were primarily but carefully tapped.⁵ Normally the State kept in stock half of the grain collections, to meet unforeseen circumstances⁶ like the setting of famine.
c8.s3.t4.2
⁴ Bk. II, ch. 17.
c8.s3.t4.3
⁵ Bk. II, ch. 29. Rock Edict XI refers to the superintendent of pastures. The term *vachamhi* in R. E. VI is *vraja* of the *Arthaśāstra* (II.6), meaning a herd of cattle and other animals. This *vraja* is said to have been inspected by Aśoka. If we consider the great attention paid to the preservation and upkeep of cattle in the *Kauṭalīya* as indispensable for agriculture, Aśoka’s interest in livestock only shows how the king interested himself in the material welfare of his people as in their moral welfare.
c8.s3.t4.4
⁶ Bk. II, ch. 12.
c8.s3.t4.5
⁷ Bk. II, ch. 12.
c8.s3.t4.6
⁸ Bk. II, ch. 25.
c8.s3.t4.7
⁹ Bk. III, ch. 20.
c8.s3.t4.8
¹ Bk. II, ch. 27.
c8.s3.t4.9
² Bk. II, ch. 26.
c8.s3.t4.10
³ See Hindu Ad. In., pp. 176, 177, 179, 180.
c8.s3.t4.11
⁴ Bk. IV, ch. 2.
c8.s3.t4.12
⁵ karśanam vamanam vā kuryāt|—Bk. II, ch. 1.
c8.s3.t4.13
⁶ tato ardham rakṣet āpadartham jānapadānām|| . Cp. Ind. Ant., 1896, p. 261.
Linked texts (3)
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
- Major Rock Edict VI — Prakrit
- Major Rock Edict XI — Prakrit