Director of customs duties and tolls

Having discussed the kOSa, kOshTha, paNya, kupya and AyudhAgaras that collect and preserve indigenous produce within the state, now cANakya moves on to export and import of goods.

SulkAdhyaksha should establish the customs office at the entry port. There should be a thorough check of all that is being imported for its quality, quantity and entry clearance document given at the source port.

Depending on the type of goods being imported, the duty on the goods is decided.

राष्ट्रपीडाकरम् भाण्डमुच्छिन्द्यादफलम् च यत्
महोपकारमुच्छुल्कम् कुर्याद् बीजं तु दुर्लभम्

Those goods that cause trouble in the territory (alcoholic drinks etc) and those goods do not have much use should not be imported. Those items that give great benefits to the people in the kingdom like medicinal things and important seeds not available within the country should be imported free of charge.

Based on the above principle, the pravEsya Sulka (import duty) need to be decided and it should be around 20% of the worth of the goods. Some items have 15%, 10% and very useful items have only 2.5% import duty.

Depending on the type of goods at least fifth of the duty should be collected before letting the goods enter the country and rest of it later. When the traders try to show a less valuable item as sample and import more valuable goods on that permit or engage in any malpractice related to evading import duties, various penalties need to be applied going to the range of completely confiscating the goods.

This post covers chapters 21 and 22 of book 2 (adhyaksha pracAra) of artha SAstra.

Standardizing weight, volume, time and space measurements

Standardizing weight, volume, time and space measurements

pautavam - tulAmAna pautavam - The superintendent of weights and measures should establish the standard weights and measures of volume. Weight measures for gold, silver and diamond are explained followed by larger weights. The method of making balances, standard weight stones is explained.

The volume measure of liquids and standard volume measures are also explained in this 19th chapter of second book of artha SAstra.

The 20th chapter gives an account of mAnAdhyaksha - Who is responsible to establish the standards for measuring the time and space.

In the minute scale for length starts with a paramANu (which can't be observed with naked eye) till an angulam (inch). The later scale goes all the way to a yOjana.

Measuring time starts with one forth of the time taken to blink the eye (nimEsha). It goes all the way up to a measure of yuga.

Methods of making the time measuring instruments based on sundials, water based time measures etc., are given in this chapter.

Deciding the reconciliation between the lunar and solar years is also been discussed.

It is really important to precisely measure the standard units and the subject has been dealt carefully by cANakya in artha SAstra.

paNya, kupya, AyudhAgAra adhyaksha

This post covers three chapters dealing with supervisors of trade, forest produce and armoury. These three are important functions just after the kOSa and kOshTa covered in last two posts.

paNyAdhyaksha -  should oversee the trade that happens in the kingdom. For the goods produced in the country the market should be centralized; for the goods imported from other countries the markets distributed; both markets should favour the people (ubhayam ca prajAnaAm anugrahEna vikrApayEt)

sthUlam api ca lAbham prajAnAm a-upkArikam vArayEt - Even there is a chance to make big profit, if it injures the interest of the subjects, should be avoided. (Making big profits by exploiting the consumers should be controlled by the director of trade!)

Should make sure there is no artificially created demand by stopping smooth flow of goods to public. Also should make sure the old stock is mixed with the new stock by the traders.

kupyAdhyaksha - oversees the forest produce. He should establish necessary workshops to make the best use of forest produce by the various persons live on the forest produce. He should make sure the produce is used for benefit of people living in the cities & forests as well as for protecting the forts and the kingdom.

(Forest produce includes collecting several poisons from poisonous creatures!)

AyudhAgArAdhyaksha - is responsible for overseeing the activities of armoury. He should be well versed with:
a. things used in the combat
b. things used to protect ones own fort and kingdom
c. things used to break into enemy's kingdom

weapons, protection from weapons, other tools, machinery, along with the people who can operate them and maintain them correctly, amount of time and cost of preparation of such things, their sources etc.,

He should make sure all the static machinery (which is established in one place) is established in its respective places with in the fort and kingdom.
He should make sure all the movable armoury is kept in different places and continuously change the places to make sure it is not kept in one location all the time.

The master of armoury should also take care of various forest produce which is used in warfare! (Some material used for fooling the enemy and making secret attacks!)

My Notes:
So, every responsible position has clear roles and responsibilities defined. Clear handshakes understood and cANakya's administration works perfectly hand in hand across the functions.