Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c8.12

c8.12

Famine Code. The king also exercised his extraordinary powers for the welfare of his people against emergencies like famines (*durbhiksha*). First, he is to help the people with a supply of seeds and provisions (*bhakta*). Secondly, he may provide for employment of the people by undertaking construction of public works such as buildings (*durgakarma*) or bridges (*setu*). Failing this, he is to supply the people with food (*bhakta-saṁvibhāgam*). Or he may remove the famine-stricken to another country for the time being (*deśanikshepaṁ vā*) or he may seek the help of a friendly State. Or he may contract (*karśana*) his population by emigrating its unemployed portion to a foreign country (*nirupayogajanānāṁ tatkāle deśāntarapreshaṇena alpatva-karaṇam*). Or he may arrange a wholesale emigration of his people to another flourishing country; or take recourse to the sea-coast or a country with lakes and tanks as sources of fish, tortoise or birds upon which to live. Or he may extend agriculture. Or he may employ his people on hunting and fishing [IV, 3].