Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c11.27

c11.27

*Sanitary Regulations.* The sanitary regulations of the municipality were enforced with strictness. Throwing dirt (*pāṁśu-nyāse*) or causing mud and water to collect on the roads (*paṅkodaka-sannirodhe*) was punished with fines and the fine was doubled in the case of the Royal Road thus interfered with. Committing nuisance in places held sacred (*puṇyasthāna*), reservoirs of water, temples, and royal buildings was also punished but exception was made when it was not done deliberately but caused by medicine, disease, or fear. Throwing inside the city the dead bodies of snakes, and animals like the cat, dog or mongoose was punished with a fine of 3 *paṇas*; in the case of the carcases of the larger animals like an ass, camel, mule, or horse, the above fine was doubled, while in the case of human corpse, the fine was 50 *paṇas*. Carrying dead bodies along roads or through gates other than the prescribed ones was punished, while the guards who connived at that offence were also fined. The cremation or burial of dead bodies (*nyāse dahane cha*) in places other than the prescribed one was similarly punishable [*Ib.*].