Arthashastra · Chapter 47
Book 2 (The Duties of Government Superintendents), Chapter XVII: THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FOREST
Translated by R. Shamasastry (1915, public domain), 1915. Public domain.
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THE Superintendent of Forest Produce shall collect timber and other products of forests by employing those who guard productive forests. He shall not only start productive works in forests, but also fix adequate fines and compensations to be levied from those who cause any damage to productive forests except in calamities.
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The following are forest products.
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Sdka (teak), tinisa (Dalbergia Ougeinensis), dhanvana (?), arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna), madhika (Bassia Latifolia), tilaka (Barleria Cristata), tála (palmyra), simsúpa (Dalbergia Sissu), arimeda (Fetid Mimosa), rájádana (Mimosops Kauki), sirisha (Mimosa Sirísha), khadira (Mimosa Catechu), sarala (Pinus
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Longifolia), tdlasarja (sal tree or Shorea Robesta), asvakarna (Vatica Robesta), somavalka (a kind of white khadira), kasdmra (?), priyaka (yellow sal tree), dhava (Mimosa Hexandra), etc., are the trees of strong timber (sdraddruvarga).
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Utaja, Chimiya, Chava, Vénu, Vamsa, Sátina, Kantaka, and Bhdlliuka, etc., form the group of bamboo.
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Vetra (cane), sokavalli, vási (Justicia Ganderussa ?), sydmalatd (Ichnocarpus), ndgalata (betel), etc., form the group of creepers.
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Madlati (Jasminum Grandiflorum), dúrvá (panic grass), arka (Calotropis Gigantea), sana (hemp), gavedhuka (Coix Barbata), atasi (Linum Usitatis simum), etc., form the group of fibrous plants (valkavarga).
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Munja (Saccharum Munja), balbaja (Eleusine Indica), etc., are plants which yield rope-making material (rajjubhdnda). Tali (Corypha Taliera), tala (palmyra or Borassus Flabelliformis), and bhúrja (birch) yield leaves (patram). Kimsuka (Butea Frondosa), kusumbha (Carthamus Tinctorius), and kumkuma (Crocus Sativus) yield flowers. Bulbous roots and fruits are the group of medicines. Kálakúta, Vatsandbha, Háláhala, Meshasringa, Mustd, (Cyperus Rotundus), kushtha, mahdavisha, vellitaka, gaurdrdra,
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bdlaka, markata, haimavata, kdlingaka, daradaka, kolasdraka, ushtraka, etc., are poisons.
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Likewise snakes and worms kept in pots are the group of
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Skins are those of godha (alligator), seraka (?), dvipi (leopard), simsumdra (porpoise), simha (lion), vydghra (tiger), hasti, (elephant.), mahisha (buffalo), chamara (bos grunniens),
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gomriga (bos gavaeus), and gavaya (the gayal).
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Bones, bile (pittha), sndyu (?), teeth, horn, hoofs, and tails of the above animals as well as of other beasts, cattle, birds and snakes (vydla).
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Kdldyasa (iron), tamra (copper), vritta (?), kamsya (bronze),
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sisa (lead), trapu (tin), vaikrintaka (mercury ?), and drakuata (brass), are metals.
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Utensils (bhanda), are those made of cane, bark (vidala), and
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clay (mrittikd). Charcoal, bran, and ashes are other things. Menageries of beasts, cattle, and birds. Collection of firewood and fodder.
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The superintendent of forest produce shall carry on either
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inside or outside (the
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capital city) the manufacture of all kinds of articles which are
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necessary for life or for the
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defence of forts. [Thus ends Chapter XVII, “The Superintendent of Forest Produce” in Book II, “The Duties of Government Superintendents” of the Arthasdstra of Kautilya. End of chapter thirty-eighth from the beginning. ]