Adhyaya 16

Sutra 1

विक्षेपसंक्षेपक्रयविक्रयप्रयोगकालान् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०१ ॥

[He shall regulate/record] the times for: spreading out (display/handling), gathering (consolidation), purchase, sale, and deployment/use (of goods).

Sutra 2

यच्च पण्यं प्रचुरं स्यात्तदेकीकृत्यार्घमारोपयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०२ ॥

For any commodity that is plentiful, the superintendent should consolidate (the supply/stock) and then raise its assessed price.

Sutra 3

प्राप्तेऽर्घे वार्घान्तरं कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०३ ॥

Once the target price is realized, he may have a revised price (a new price-point) implemented.

Sutra 4

स्वभूमिजानां राजपण्यानामेकमुखं व्यवहारं स्थापयेत्परभूमिजानामनेकमुखम् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०४ ॥

For state commodities produced within the realm, he should establish a single-channel mode of transaction; for those originating outside the realm, a multi-channel mode.

Sutra 5

उभयं च प्रजानामनुग्रहेण विक्रापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०५ ॥

And he should cause both (domestic and foreign goods) to be sold with consideration for the welfare of the people.

Sutra 6

स्थूलमपि च लाभं प्रजानामौपघातिकं वारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०६ ॥

Even a large profit should be restrained if it is injurious to the people.

Sutra 7

अजस्रपण्यानां कालोपरोधं संकुलदोषं वा नोत्पादयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०७ ॥

For regularly circulating commodities, he should not create delays of season/time nor the defect of congestion (market crowding/entanglement).

Sutra 8

बहुमुखं वा राजपण्यं वैदेहकाः कृतार्घं विक्रीणीरन् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०८ ॥

Or, the Vaidehakas may sell state commodities through multiple outlets after fixing the assessed price.

Sutra 9

छेदानुरूपं च वैधरणं दद्युः ॥ कZ_०२.१६.०९ ॥

And they should pay the vaidharaṇa in proportion to the cut/deduction (i.e., according to the applicable rate/abatement).

Sutra 10

षोडशभागो मानव्याजी विंशतिभागस्तुलामानं गण्यपण्यानामेकादशभागः ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१० ॥

The duty on goods measured by volume is one-sixteenth; on goods measured by weight (balance/scale) one-twentieth; and on countable goods one-eleventh.

Sutra 11

परभूमिजं पण्यमनुग्रहेणावाहयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.११ ॥

He should encourage the inflow/importation of foreign-origin commodities through favorable measures.

Sutra 12

नाविकसार्थवाहेभ्यश्च परिहारमायतिक्षमं दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१२ ॥

He should grant remissions/exemptions to boatmen and caravan-leaders, in a manner that is sustainable in the long term.

Sutra 13

अनभियोगश्चार्थेष्वागन्तूनामन्यत्र सभ्योपकारिभ्यः ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१३ ॥

Visiting traders (outsiders) should not be subjected to claims or harassment in commercial matters—except where they have caused harm to reputable citizens (or persons under civic protection).

Sutra 14

पण्याधिष्ठातारः पण्यमूल्यमेकमुखं काष्ठद्रोण्यामेकच्छिद्रापिधानायां निदध्युः ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१४ ॥

Market officers should deposit the price-money of goods into a wooden receptacle with a single opening, secured by a cover with a single hole (a controlled-deposit box).

Sutra 15

अह्नश्चाष्टमे भागे पण्याध्यक्षस्यार्पयेयुः इदं विक्रीतमिदं शेषमिति ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१५ ॥

At the eighth part of the day (a fixed daily time), they should submit to the Superintendent of Trade a report: ‘this has been sold; this remains’.

Sutra 16

तुलामानभाण्डं चार्पयेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१६ ॥

They should also submit the weighing scales, measures, and containers (for verification).

Sutra 17

इति स्वविषये व्याख्यातम् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१७ ॥

Thus, the procedure within one’s own territory has been explained.

Sutra 18

परविषये तु पण्यप्रतिपण्ययोरर्घं मूल्यं चागमय्य शुल्कवर्तन्यातिवाहिकगुल्मतरदेयभक्तभागव्ययशुद्धमुदयं पश्येत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१८ ॥

In another territory, having ascertained the market-rate and the cost-price of the goods and counter-goods, he should examine the net revenue—purified (net of) customs, road-cess, transport charges, guard-post charges, ferry charges, payments due, rations, shares/commissions, and other expenses.

Sutra 19

असत्युदये भाण्डनिर्वहणेन पण्यप्रतिपण्यानयनेन वा लाभं पश्येत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१९ ॥

When the expected revenue proves false (does not materialize), he should seek profit either by relocating the cargo elsewhere or by bringing in alternative goods and counter-goods.

Sutra 20

ततः सारपादेन स्थलव्यवहारमध्वना क्षेमेण प्रयोजयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.२० ॥

Thereafter, he should conduct overland transactions through a trustworthy agent (lit. ‘one with a sound footing’) and along a secure route, with safety assured.

Sutra 21

अटव्यन्तपालपुरराष्ट्रमुख्यैश्च प्रतिसंसर्गं गच्छेदनुग्रहार्थम् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.२१ ॥

And he should maintain regular liaison with forest-frontier guards and with leading men of towns and the countryside, for the purpose of securing their support.

Sutra 22

आपदि सारमात्मानं वा मोक्षयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.२२ ॥

In an emergency, he should save either the principal capital (sāra) or his own person.

Sutra 23

आत्मनो वा भूमिं प्राप्तः सर्वदेयविशुद्धं व्यवहरेत ॥ कZ_०२.१६.२३ ॥

Or, on reaching his own territory, he should conduct business only after being cleared of all dues (taxes/levies).

Sutra 24

वारिपथे वा यानभागकपथ्यदनपण्यप्रतिपण्यार्घप्रमाणयात्राकालभयप्रतीकारपण्यपत्तनचारित्राण्युपलभेत ॥ कZ_०२.१६.२४ ॥

Or, on the water-route, he should ascertain: transport shares/charges, what is fit or unfit (for carriage), non-tradable goods, barter/return commodities, prevailing prices, measures/standards, travel duration, dangers and their countermeasures, marketable goods, port practices, and local commercial customs.

Sutra 25

यतो लाभस्ततो गच्छेदलाभं परिवर्जयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.२५च्द् ॥

He should go where there is profit, and avoid what yields loss.