Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 20

Devanagari script

षट्कंसो दण्डो ब्रह्मदेयातिथ्यमानम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२० ॥

Transliteration

ṣaṭkaṃso daṇḍo brahmadeyātithyamānam

Translation

এটা দণ্ড (লাঠি) ছয় কংসৰ সমান; ই ব্ৰহ্মদেয়/আতিথ্য-মান (মাপ)।

Word by Word

• षट्कंसः: six kāṃsas (a quantified measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + कंस
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘षट्कंस’ (षट् कंसाः = six kāṃsas)

• दण्डः: the fine/penalty
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• ब्रह्मदेय: brahmadeya (grant/gift to a Brāhmaṇa)
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: ब्रह्म + देय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक; (ब्रह्मणः देयम्/ब्रह्मणे देयम्) ‘gift/grant to a Brāhmaṇa’; here as qualifier of the following item

• आतिथ्यमानम्: the assessed measure/standard amount for hospitality
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतिथ्य + मान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘आतिथ्यस्य मानम्’ = the assessed/standard amount for hospitality; in this sūtra functioning as the object/standard with respect to the fine

Entities Mentioned

• daṇḍa
• kaṃsa
• brahmadeya
• ātithya

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya specify a special standard for brahmadeya/ātithya?

Because grants and endowments require legally defensible, uniform measurement to prevent boundary disputes, under-measurement, and revenue leakage.

What administrative function does defining the daṇḍa serve?

It anchors a chain of official land-measures used by surveyors, record-keepers, and courts to standardize cadastral work.