Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 49

Devanagari script

अर्धन्यूनश्चान्द्रमासः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.४९ ॥

Transliteration

ardhanyūnaś cāndramāsaḥ

Translation

চান্দ্ৰ মাহ অর্ধ দিন কম (অৰ্থাৎ ঊনত্রিশ আৰু আধা অহোৰাত্ৰি)।

Word by Word

• अर्धन्यूनः: short by a half (day); deficient by half
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यून
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• चान्द्रमासः: the lunar month
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः

Entities Mentioned

• lunar month (cāndramāsa)

More Details

FAQs

How does ‘half a day less’ help governance?

It gives a computable conversion rule between lunar dating (used in society) and fixed administrative cycles (wages, audits, deadlines).

What broader statecraft principle is illustrated across these verses?

Administrative rationalization: define uniform units and conversion rules so the state can plan, collect, pay, and adjudicate consistently across time and territory.