History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.369

v4.c62.369

It was the special concern of the king to see that proper weights and measures were used. Kauṭ. (II. 19) as stated above (pp. 145-146) provides for a special superintendent of weights and measures. Vas.²⁰⁷ (19. 13) and Manu VIII. 403 provide that all weights and measures must be duly marked (or stamped), that once in six months they must be re-examined and that the weights and measures for objects required by the class of householders must be guarded against falsifications. Yāj. II. 240 and Viṣṇudharmasūtra V. 122 prescribe as punishment the highest ammercement for those who fabricate false balances, edicts, measures and coins and also for those who use them in their transactions. The Nītivākyāmṛta (p. 98) requires the king to be vigilant as regards merchandise, balances and measures, since there is none who excels traders in stealing people's money before their very eyes.²⁰⁸ Vide Alberuni (tr. by Sachau) vol. I chap. XV about weights and measures current in India in the 11th century.