Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c9.136

c9.136

Adulteration of salt, and its manufacture without licence (*vilavaṇaṁ anisṛishṭopajīvī*) were punished except in the case of hermits (*vāṇaprastha*). Persons given to sacred learning (*śrotriya*), ascetics (*tapasvī*), and labourers not engaged on hire (*vishṭi*) are to get salt free of cost, provided it is for food and not trade (*bhaktalavaṇa*). Thus the salt-tax did not press heavily on the poor.