Kautilya Arthashastra

by R. Shamasastry | 1956 | 174,809 words | ISBN-13: 9788171106417

The English translation of Arthashastra, which ascribes itself to the famous Brahman Kautilya (also named Vishnugupta and Chanakya) and dates from the period 321-296 B.C. The topics of the text include internal and foreign affairs, civil, military, commercial, fiscal, judicial, tables of weights, measures of length and divisions of time. Original ...

Chapter 1 - Protection against Artisans

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Three commissioners (pradeṣṭāraḥ [pradeṣṭṛ]) or three ministers shall deal with measures to suppress disturbance to peace (kaṇṭakaśodhanaṃkuryuḥ).[1]

Those who can be expected to relieve misery, who can give instructions to artisans, who can be trusted with deposits, who can plan artistic work after their own design,[2] and who can be relied upon by guilds of artisans, may receive the deposits of the guilds.[3] The guilds (śreṇi) shall receive their deposits back in time of distress.

Artisans shall, in accordance with their agreement as to time, place, and form of work, fulfil their engagements. Those who postpone their engagements under the excuse that no agreement as to time, place, and form of work has been entered into shall, except in troubles and calamities, not only forfeit ¼th of their wages, but also be punished with a fine equal to twice the amount of their wages.[4] They shall also make good whatever is thus lost or damaged. Those who carry on their work contrary to orders shall not only forfeit their wages, but also pay a fine equal to twice the amount of their wages.[5]

(Weavers)

Weavers shall increase the weight of the threads (supplied to them for weaving cloths) in the proportion of 10 to 11 (daśaikādaśika) by soaking the threads in rice-gruel. They shall, otherwise not only pay either a fine equal to twice the loss in threads or the value of the whole yarn, but also forfeit their wages. In weaving linen or silk cloths (kṣaumakauśeya), the increase shall be 1 to 1½. In weaving fibrous or woollen garments or blankets (patrorṇākambaladukūla),[6] the increase shall be 1 to 2.

In case of loss in length, the value of the loss shall be deducted from the wages and a fine equal to twice the loss shall be imposed.[7] Loss in weight (tulāhine) shall be punished with a fine equal to four times the loss. Substitution of other kind of yarn shall be punished with a fine equal to twice the value of the original.

The same rules shall apply to the weaving of broad cloths (dvipaṭavāna).

The loss in weight in woollen threads of 100 palas[8] due to threshing or falling of hair is 5 palas.

(Washermen)

Washermen shall wash clothes either on wooden planks or on stones of smooth surface. Washing elsewhere shall not only be punished with a fine of 6 paṇas, but also be subject for the payment of a compensation equal to the damage.

Washermen wearing clothes other than such as are stamped with the mark of a cudgel shall be fined three paṇas. For selling, mortgaging, or letting out for hire the clothes of others, a fine of 12 paṇas shall be imposed.

In case of substitution of other clothes, they shall not only be punished with a fine equal to twice the value of the clothes, but also be made to restore the true ones.[9]

For keeping for more than one, two, three or four nights clothes which are to be made as white as jasmine flower, or which are to attain the natural colour of their threads on washing on the surface of stones, or which are to be made whiter merely by removing their dirt by washing, proportional fines shall be imposed. For keeping for more than 5 nights such clothes as are to be given thin colouring, for more than six nights such as are to be made blue, for more than 7 nights such as are to be made either as white as flowers or as beautiful and shiny as lac, saffron, or blood, and such clothes as require much skill and care in making brilliant, wages shall be forfeited.

Trustworthy persons shall be judges in disputes regarding colour and experts shall determine the necessary wages.[10]

For washing the best garments, the wages shall be one paṇa; for those of middle quality, half a paṇa; and for those of inferior quality ⅙th of a paṇa.

For rough washing on big stones, the wages shall be ⅛th of a paṇa.[11]

[In the first wash of red-coloured clothes, there is a loss of ¼th part (of the colour); in the second wash, ⅕th part. This explains subsequent losses.

The rules pertaining to washermen are also applicable to weavers.[12]

Goldsmiths who, without giving information (to the government), purchase from unclean hands silver or golden articles without changing the form of the articles shall be fined 12 paṇas; if they do the same changing the form of the articles (I.e. melting), they shall be fined 24 paṇas; if they purchase the same from the hands of a thief, they shall be fined 48 paṇas; if they purchase an article for less than its value after melting it in secret, they shall be liable to the punishment for theft; likewise for deception with manufactured articles.[13] When a goldsmith steals from a suvarṇa gold equal to the weight of a māṣa (1/16th of a suvarṇa), he shall be punished 200 paṇas; when he steals from a silver dharaṇa silver equal to the value of a māṣa, he shall be fined 12 paṇas. This explains the proportional enhancement of punishments. When a goldsmith removes the whole amount of the gold (karṣa) from a suvarṇa by apasāraṇa method or by any other deceitful combination (yoga), he shall be punished with a fine of 500 paṇas. In case of contaminating them (gold and silver) in any way, the offence shall be regarded as loss of their intrinsic colour.

One māṣa shall be the fee for the manufacture of a silver dharaṇa; for the manufacture of a suvarṇa, ⅛th of the same; or fees may be increased to twice the above according to the skill of the manufacturer. This explains the proportional increase of fees.

Fees for the manufacture of articles from copper, brass, vaikṛntaka, and ārakūṭa shall be five per cent. In the manufacture of articles from copper (?), 1/15th of the copper will be lost. For the loss of a pala in weight, a fine of twice the loss shall be imposed. This explains the proportional increase of punishments. In the manufacture of articles from lead and tin, 1/20th of the mass will be lost. One kākaṇi shall be the fee for manufacturing an article of a pala in weight of the above. In the manufacture of articles from iron, ⅕th of the mass will be lost; two kākaṇis shall be the fee for manufacturing an article of a pala in weight from iron.[14] This explains the proportional increase of fees.

When the examiner of coins declares an unacceptable current coin to be worthy of being entered into the treasury or rejects an acceptable current coin, he shall be fined 12 paṇas. When the examiner of coins misappropriates a māṣa from a current coin of a paṇa, the tax (vyāji) of five per cent on the coin having been duly paid, he shall be fined 12 paṇas. This explains the proportional increase of fines. When a person causes a counterfeit coin to be manufactured, or accepts it, or exchanges it, he shall be fined 1,000 paṇas; he who enters a counterfeit coin into the treasury shall be put to death.[15]

(Scavengers)

Of whatever precious things sweepers come across while sweeping, one-third shall be taken by them and two-thirds by the king. But precious stones shall be wholly surrendered to the king. Seizure of precious stones shall be punished with the highest amercement.[16]

A discoverer of mines, precious stones, or treasure trove shall, on supplying the information to the king, receive ⅙th of it as his share; but if the discoverer happens to be a peon (bhṛtaka), his share shall be only 1/??th of it.

Treasure troves valued beyond 100,000 shall wholly be taken by the king. But if they are of less value, the discoverer shall receive ⅙th of it as his share.

Such treasure troves as a man of pure and honest life can prove to be his ancestral property shall wholly be taken by the man himself. Taking possession of a treasure trove without establishing such claim shall be punished with a fine of 500 paṇas. Taking possession of the same in secret shall be punished with a fine of 1,000 paṇas.[17]

(Medical Practice)

Physicians undertaking medical treatment without intimating (to the government) the dangerous nature of the disease shall, if the patient dies, be punished with the first amercement. If the death of a patient under treatment is due to carelessness in the treatment, the physician shall be punished with the middlemost amercement. Growth of disease due to negligence or indifference (karmavadha)[18] of a physician shall be regarded as assault or violence.[19]

(Musicians)

Bands of musicians (kuśīlava) shall, during the rainy season, stay in a particular place. They shall strictly avoid giving too much indulgence, or causing too much loss (atipāta) to any one. Violation of the above rule shall be punished with a fine of 12 paṇas. They may hold their performances to their liking in accordance with the procedure of their country, caste, family, profession, or copulation.

The same rules shall apply to dancers, dumb-players and other mendicants.

For offences, mendicants shall receive as many lashes with an iron rod as the number of paṇas imposed on them.

Wages for the works of other kinds of artisans shall be similarly determined.

* Thus traders, artisans, musicians, beggers, buffoons and other idlers who are thieves in effect though not in name shall be restrained from oppression on the country.[20]

[Thus ends Chapter I, “Protection against Artisans,” in Book IV, “The Removal of Thorns” of the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya. End of the seventy-eighth chapter from the beginning.]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

M. 9, 253. Kaṇṭakas are artisans.—T. M. Com.

[2]:

The Munich Manuscript reads, “Svavittakārava,” those who carry out artisan work with their own capital.

[3]:

M. 8, 179.

[4]:

Y. 2, 193, 195.

[5]:

Y. 2, 195.

[6]:

The Munich Manuscript reads, “Kambala tulānām,” blankets and cotton cloths.

[7]:

M. 8, 397; Y. 2, 179, 180.

[8]:

The Munich Manuscript reads, “Tula,” 100 palas.

[9]:

M. 8, 395; Y. 2, 238.

[10]:

Y. 2, 181.

[11]:

“(sthūlakāśe prakṣipato vadhaḥ)”—“He who throws clothes on thorny grass shall be put to death.” As the punishment is too severe for the offence, I think the word “Vadha” is a clerical error for “Ardhapada,” which harmonises with the scale of punishments.

[12]:

N. 9, 8, 9, 13.

[13]:

Y. 2, 168, 247, 257.

[14]:

Y. 2, 178; N. 9, 10-12.

[15]:

The portion wihin [within?] the brackets is an additional reading found in the Munich Manuscript.

[16]:

M. 8, 33-34.

[17]:

Vi. 3, 58, 61; N. 7,6; M. 8, 31, 32, 37; Y. 2,35.

[18]:

The Munich Manuscript reads, “Marmavadha,” destruction of vital parts.

[19]:

Vi. 5, 175-77; Y. 2, 242.

[20]:

M. 9, 225.

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