Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c9.156

c9.156

Superintendent of Slaughter-house (*Sūnādhyaksha*). There was the allied Department of the Superintendent of Slaughter-house (*Sūnādhyaksha*) [II. 26], some of whose regulations are connected with those for forests. It appears that there were certain ‘protective’ forests (*abhayavana*) the denizens of which were protected against violence by declaration (*pradishṭābhayānām*). These were animals like ‘deer, rhino, bisons, and buffaloes, birds like peacocks, and fishes.’ There were other animals and birds protected on the principle that they were not killed according to custom (*apravṛittavadhānām*). Thus violence against such non-violent creatures was punishable.