वैदेहकानां वा सम्भूय पण्यमवरुन्धतामनर्घेण विक्रीणतां वा सहस्रं दण्डः ॥ कZ_०४.२.१९ ॥
vaidehakānāṃ vā sambhūya paṇyam avarundhatām anargheṇa vikrīṇatāṃ vā sahasraṃ daṇḍaḥ
De même, pour les vaidehakas qui agissent de concert afin d’accaparer/de retenir des marchandises, ou qui vendent à un prix non rémunérateur (injuste), la peine est de 1 000 paṇas.
Coordinated hoarding/cornering of goods and coordinated selling at an improper (market-distorting) price.
Because predatory or manipulated pricing can destabilize markets, eliminate competitors, or enable later profiteering; the state targets the distortion, not just high prices.