Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

connection that state had framed trade regulations which show that
commerce was in developed stage in ancient times. Internal trade was
divided in three parts- retail, whole and state trade. Regarding peoples
welfare the foreign trade was also in practice.
The state had an important role to play in industrial development
in ancient times. Some industries, like mining, armaments, shipping,
etc., were state monopoly in Shukra-niti and Kautiliya economy.
Akaradhyaksa (The Superintendent of Mines) was responsible for
appointments, selection of mining equipments, examining old and new
mines, and operations and preservations of mines in Kautiliya economy.
Kautilya provides the qualities of lands where gold, silver, copper and
other mines could be found. According to him the quality of minerals
underground could be ascertained by soil characteristics. He also
suggest techniques to soften or harden a metal, purify it by using
liquids prepared out of natural products, like plants, milk, oil, honey,
urine etc.
Lakshnadhyaksa (Mint Master) was responsible for setting
up factories to manufacture and sell iron and steel copper and other
metals. He looked after manufacturing coins for the state, the mints of
the metals for coins were specified. Silver and copper were major
ingredients. Coins could not be manufactured by any other person,
except the state officer. (Kautiliya Arthashastram, 2009, 2.13)
Mining of precious metals was also a state monopoly. The
Superintendent of Mines was appointed to arrange for mining, cutting,
polishing, etc. of diamond. Sources were identified from where diamond
could be obtained and shapes sizes and quality of diamonds were
described. Manufacturing storing and selling of salt was looked after
by Lavanadhyaksa (The Superintendent of Salts). Imported salt was
heavily taxed. If there was enough salt domestically available importers
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were penalized to compensate the state. Since salt industry was one of
the important sector therefore production, sale and purchase has been
described in detail. For selling price of salt Kautilya used following
method (Kautilyako Arthashastra, 1967, 2.12)-
Salt price = cost price + 5 percent transaction tax + quarantine fee
Business Management
For the best management following conditions are explained
by modern entrepreneurs. Kautilya and Shukra have stipulated these
conditions clearly in their treatises. These conditions are as follows
(Joshi, 2006 :181)-
1. Have confidence in and devotion to work
2. Get fully absorbed in the task entrusted
3. Production must be the primary aim
4. Drawing up a plan of working to avoid obstruction in the
smooth running of the enterprise
5. Proper arrangement should be the eternal watchword
6. Create awareness about the enterprise in the total population
of the country
7. Aiming at success in the international competitive business world
Explaining the qualities of an entrepreneur, Kautilya states,
'Since it is proper to ask for advice, the desire to seek obedience is
Susrusa. When advice is tendered, naturally one has to listen to it and
understand what one has listened to. Understanding what one has
listened to is grasping- Grahana,. Not forgetting such awareness is
preservation or Dhyana. Trying to derive proper understanding of the
subjects which one has preserved is knowledge- Vigyan. Things, which
are not explained by words but understanding such things by other
means, is known as inference- Uhya. Rejecting that which is
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