[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Mauryan Polity](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932) › c8.s3.t4 # 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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.2) ⁴ Bk. II, ch. 17. ### [c8.s3.t4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.4) ⁶ Bk. II, ch. 12. ### [c8.s3.t4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.5) ⁷ Bk. II, ch. 12. ### [c8.s3.t4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.6) ⁸ Bk. II, ch. 25. ### [c8.s3.t4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.7) ⁹ Bk. III, ch. 20. ### [c8.s3.t4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.8) ¹ Bk. II, ch. 27. ### [c8.s3.t4.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.9) ² Bk. II, ch. 26. ### [c8.s3.t4.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.10) ³ See Hindu Ad. In., pp. 176, 177, 179, 180. ### [c8.s3.t4.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.11) ⁴ Bk. IV, ch. 2. ### [c8.s3.t4.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.12) ⁵ karśanam vamanam vā kuryāt|—Bk. II, ch. 1. ### [c8.s3.t4.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4.13) ⁶ tato ardham rakṣet āpadartham jānapadānām|| . Cp. Ind. Ant., 1896, p. 261. ## Cites (3) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya.2.6) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit - [Major Rock Edict VI](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.asoka.re.re06) — Prakrit - [Major Rock Edict XI](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.asoka.re.re11) — Prakrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c8.s3.t4) · Pramāṇa