Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

Kautilya describes about forests in chapter 17 and 18 of the
second book. While making new settlements Katuilya gives much
importance for the preservation of different types of forest by
forestation. He has developed different types of forests with new
settlement in the country that are given in the table. Kautilya has managed
all these lands to keep tax free. From the point of view of wild animals
and forest production Kautilya has managed various types of forests.
Kautilya has suggested to plant trees in uncultivable and pasture lands.
He divides these forest as shown in table 3.2.
Table 3.2. Types of Forests
Name Particulars
Gochar pasture
Brahmaranya forest for religious learning
Somaranya soma plantation
Tapovan forest for the performance
Mrigvana Animal forest
Source: Kautilyako Arthashastra, 1967, 2.17
He suggests, Brahmans shall be provided with forests for soma
plantation, for religious learning, and for the performance of penance,
such forests being rendered safe from the dangers from animate or
inanimate objects, and being named after the tribal name- gotra of the
Brahmins resident therein. (Kautilyako Arthashastra, 1967, 2.18)
A forest as extensive as the above, provided with only one
entrance rendered inaccessible by the construction of ditches all round,
with plantations of delicious fruit trees, bushes, bowers, and thorn
less trees, with an expansive lake of water full of harmless animals,
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and with tigers, vyala, beasts of prey- mrigayuka, male and female
elephants, young elephants, and bisons all deprived of their claws and
teeth shall be formed for the king’s sports. (ibid) On the extreme limit
of the country or in any other suitable locality, another game-forest
with game-beasts; open to all, shall also be made. In view of procuring
all kinds of forest-produce described elsewhere, one or several forests
shall be especially reserved.
Kautilya also gives equal emphasis for economic forest for
forest produce.’ Manufacturies to prepare commodities from forest
produce shall also be set up’. (ibid) He calls it dravya-vana- forest of
wealth. According to him, ‘Wild tracts shall be separated from timberforests.
In the extreme limit of the country, elephant forests, separated
from wild tracts, shall be formed.’ (ibid) Different types of reserved
forest managed in Kautiliya Arthashastra is presented in table 3.3.
Table 3.3. Reserved Forest
Forest Use
Dravya vana economic forest
Abhayvan wild life reserves
Mrigvana animal forest
Atithimrigvan guest animal forest
Hastivan elephant forest
Source: Kautilyako Arthashastra, 1967, 2.17
It is to note that Brihasapati is of the view that all the economic
system whether agriculture, or protection of cows, or commerce and
trade all depend on stable political system. Primary requisite for
sustainable economic system is a firm and centralized economic
system. (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, 2003, 68.10-12) if the central
power of a country is weak, the public will suffer like a crowd of
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