Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

meaningless is Apaha. Proper understanding of things is known as
Tattwabhinivesh. A proper understanding of all these points of merit
will make one an efficient entrepreneur. Maintaining proper practice
during one’s study time is known as polite conduct- Vinaya. This Vinaya
is the Be all and End all of all entrepreneurs. With the help of
this quality one can get rid of all his deficiencies'. (Joshi, ibid)
The structure of business organization as estimated by Rangrajan is
given in the fig. 4.1.
Thread Industry
Fig. 4.1. Business Organization
Superintendent
(uttaradhyaksha)
Clerk Coin inspector Accountant Store-keeper
(Lekhak) (Rupadarshak) (Samkhyayaka) (Nivigraha)
Source: Rangranjan, 1992 : 363
Taxtile industry was managed by the state officer called
Sutradhyaksha (The Superintendent of Threads). Cotton and woolen
threads, clothes, ropes, army dresses ad garments were manufactured
under his supervision by qualified and experienced workers. Services
of widows handicapped monks, old aged prostitutes, and devadasis
could be utilized for preparing threads. Centers for preparing threads
and weaving clothes were set up, where training facilities were also
available. Ladies working in these centers were protected from sexual
harassment of any type. If the The Superintendent of Threads looked
at the face of a woman and talked something other than her work he
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was liable to be punished. Stealing anything from the factory was treated
as an offense. The employee found stealing could even loose her fingers.
Production of Liquors
For the production and control of wines a separate department
is formed by Kautilya- Suradhyaksa (The Controller of Liquors).
According to Kautilya, the Controller of Liquors should cause trade in
wines and ferments to be carried on in the fort, the country or the
camp, through persons dealing in wines and ferments, being born to
that work, either in one place or in many places or according to
(convenience for) purchase and sale. (Kautiliya Arthashastra-2,
2003, 2.23.1) Special drinks were prepared for the king and nobles.
Manufacturing wines without state permission was punishable and
taxable. (Chamola, ibid) Six types of liquors were identified and the
process of manufacturing and control of quality is also described in
Arthashastra. The names of described liquors are- Medak, Prasanna,
Asava, Arista, Maireya, and Madhu. Grape wine was called Madhu. In
Bhagwat Puran the reference of liquor Maireya has been described as
most hard drink, which was popular among Yadavas. Different qualities
were sold by the controller of liquors directly through bars and depots
set up by him and also through experienced traders born into business
family dealing into these products. Drinking at places and time which
may harm society was prohibited. Wealth acquired or sold by persons
under influence of drink could be seized. The Controller of Liquors
should set up bars with pleasant atmosphere inside by providing
fragrance, flowers, and other items of luxury. The visitors in bars
were closely watched. Spies could keep eye on foreigners and also
undesirable elements in the bar. Drinks were allowed in public on special
occasions only otherwise the drinking in open places was strictly prohibited.
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