Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c7.s1: The Gamekeeper

Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya), Vol. I c7.s1

Language: English

The Gamekeeper

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The Government of Chandra Gupta addressed itself in various ways to the protection of lower animals. There were issued specific regulations affording State protection to certain classes of animals, and for this purpose were also established and maintained forests (अभयवन), the animals whereof were exempted from capture, molestation and slaughter. Into these forests none could enter, and the violation of this rule was visited with fines.¹ For the enforcement of these regulations a special superintendent was appointed called सूनाध्यक्ष (gamekeeper).

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¹ प्रतिष्टामृगाणामभयवनवासिनां च मृग-पशु-पक्षि-मत्स्यानां वधबन्धहिंसायामुत्तमं दण्डं कारयेत् । कुटुम्बिनां अभयवनपरिग्रहेषु मध्यम ।—Bk. II, सूनाध्यक्षः, p, 122. उत्तम दण्ड, a fine ranging from 500 to 1000 paṇas; मध्यम दण्ड, a fine ranging from 200 to 500 paṇas.—Bk. III, साहसम्, p. 192. ² See the foregoing passage. ³ अभयवनानां मत्स्यपक्षिणां वधबन्धहिंसायां पादोनसप्तविंशति (26¾)—पणमत्ययं कुर्यात् । मृगपशूनां द्विगुणं ।—(सूनाध्यक्षः)। ⁴ वत्सो वृषो धेनुश्चैवमवध्याः । घातः पञ्चाशतको दण्डः । जिव्हतां घातयतश्च ।—Ibid.

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The following were the classes of animals that were given protection :—

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(i) Birds, deer and other animals living in the forests under State protection, as well as fishes in the ponds therein.²

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(ii) Those birds, fishes, deer and other animals that do not prey upon life.³

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(iii) Calves, bulls and milch cows.⁴

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(iv) Ocean animals resembling elephant, horse, man, ox or ass. This, by the way, points to a close familiarity with the ocean and marine life.¹

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¹ सामुद्र इत्यस्य-पूप-हप-गर्भभक्षतयः—सूत्राध्यक्षः ।

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(v) Fishes in rivers, lakes and canals (कुप्या).²

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² मत्स्याः नादेयास्तडाककुप्योद्भवाः—Ibid.

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(vi) A few game-birds, specifically named as follows: सारस (crane) in rivers, lakes and canals, क्रौञ्च (osprey), उत्-क्रोशक (sea-eagle), दात्यूह (gallinule, an aquatic bird), हंस (goose or gander, swan, flamingo, etc.), चक्रवाक् (Brahmany duck), जीवजीवक (a kind of pheasant), भृङ्गराज (fork-tailed shrike), चकोर (partridge), मत्तकोकिल (cuckoo), मयूर (peacock), शुक (parrot), मदन-शारिका (Turdus salica—birds like mainâ).³

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³ सारसा नादेयास्तडाक कुप्योद्भवाः । क्रौञ्च-उत्क्रोशक-दात्यूह-हंस-चक्रवाक्-जीवजीवक-भृङ्गराज-चकोर-मत्तकोकिल-मयूर-शुक-मदन-शारिका विहार-पक्षिणो माङ्गल्यान्येपि प्राणिणः पक्षिमुगा हिंसावाधेभ्यो रच्याः । रक्षितिक्रमे पूर्वशास्त्रदृष्टः (a fine ranging from 48 to 96 paṇas).—Ibid.

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(vii) Those birds and beasts that were regarded as sacred.⁴

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⁴ माङ्गल्यान्येपि प्राणिणः पक्षिमुगा हिंसावाधेभ्यो रच्याः—(Supra.) An interesting list of protected animals, some of which also appear in this list, is given in Asoka's Rock Edict V.

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Moreover, tolls were levied upon the capture of those birds, beasts or fishes that preyed upon life and were thus the legitimate objects of capture. Of the live captured animals, the gamekeeper took a sixth, to be afterwards set at large in special forests under the State, and a tenth or more was appropriated by Government.¹

Linked texts (1)

Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit