Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c7.s2.3

c7.s2.3

It seems from the extract of the Artha-śāstra quoted below that the king had a hunting forest exclusively for his own use. It was provided with only one entrance (एकद्वारं) and had a canal running round it to ward off intrusion (खातगुप्तं). Inside were planted fruit-trees, thornless plants, creepers and shrubs (खाडुफलमुममुमफलकद्रुमम्), and there was also a large tank (उपान्ततोयाशयं). There roamed at large not only the milder game animals (दान्तमृगचतुष्पद) but also some of the wilder ones, but deprived of their natural offending weapons like nails and teeth: viz. tigers, male, female and young elephants, and other game animals (भग्ननखदंष्ट्रव्याल-मार्गायुध-हस्ति-हस्तिनी-कलभ-मृगवम्).²