Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 50

Devanagari script

सप्तविंशतिर्नाक्षत्रमासः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५० ॥

Transliteration

saptaviṃśatir nākṣatramāsaḥ

Translation

يتكوّن شهر النكشترة (nakṣatra-month) من سبعةٍ وعشرين يومًا، محسوبًا بحسب منازل القمر.

Word by Word

• सप्तविंशतिः: twenty-seven
• Type: Noun (Numeral)
• Root: सप्त + विंशति
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-शब्द (27)

• नाक्षत्रमासः: the nakṣatra-month (sidereal/lunar month reckoned by nakṣatras)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र + मास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘नक्षत्राणां मासः’ (नाक्षत्र- = नक्षत्र-सम्बन्धी)

Entities Mentioned

• nākṣatramāsa (nakṣatra-month)

More Details

FAQs

Why would Kautilya define a ‘nakṣatra-month’ for governance?

To standardize time units used in records, scheduling, and audits across departments, reducing ambiguity in official calculations.