Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c9.124

c9.124

Commerce in commodities manufactured from mineral products was centralised (*ekamukham*). Manufacturers, buyers, and sellers of such commodities outside the prescribed locality (*anyatra*) were liable to punishment. Thus the State had a monopoly in the working of Mines, and in trade in their products. But Mines requiring a heavy capital outlay and much enterprise (*vyaya-kriyā-bhārikamākaram*) may be leased out to private persons on the basis of a share of the output (*bhāgena*) or a fixed royalty (*prakrayeṇa asyā-kārasya etāvat suvarṇādikaṁ rājārthe deyamiti paripaṇya*). Mines requiring small outlay are to be worked directly by the State (*lāghavikaṁ ātmanā kārayet*).