Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 53

Devanagari script

अवक्षेपः प्रतिमानमग्निर्गण्डिका भण्डिकाधिकरणी पिञ्छः सूत्रं चेल्लं बोल्लनं शिर उत्सङ्गो मक्षिका स्वकायेक्षा दृतिरुदकशरावमग्निष्ठमिति काचं विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.१४.५३ ॥

Transliteration

avakṣepaḥ pratimānam agnir gaṇḍikā bhaṇḍikādhikaraṇī piñchaḥ sūtraṃ cellaṃ bollanaṃ śira utsaṅgo makṣikā svakāyekṣā dṛtir udakaśarāvam agniṣṭham iti kācaṃ vidyāt

Translation

কাচ (কাচ) ত্রুটিপূর্ণ হওয়ার লক্ষণ/পরীক্ষা হিসেবে এগুলি চিনতে হবে: অবক্ষেপ (তলানি/জমাট), প্রতিমান-ঘাটতি (মানক মাপ/ওজনে না মেলা), অগ্নি-পরীক্ষার প্রতিক্রিয়া, গণ্ডিকা (গুটি/গাঁট), ভণ্ডিকা (ভঙ্গুরতা/খণ্ড খণ্ড হওয়া), অধিকরণী (ধার/ভিত্তির ভাঙন), পিঞ্ছ (পালকের মতো দাগ), সূত্র (সুতোর মতো রেখা), চেল্ল (কাপড়ের মতো আবরণ), বোল্লন (বুদবুদের মতো ফোলা), শির (মাথার মতো উঁচু অংশ), উৎসঙ্গ (ঝুলে পড়া/ঢলে পড়া), মক্ষিকা (মাছির দাগ), স্বকায়েক্ষা (নিজে দেখে পরীক্ষা/দৃশ্য পরীক্ষা), দৃতি (ফোসকা/চামড়ার মতো খোসা ওঠা), উদকশরাব (জলের পাত্র-পরীক্ষা), এবং অগ্নিষ্ঠ (আগুনের পরে অবশিষ্টাংশ/স্ল্যাগ)—এভাবেই কাচ চেনা উচিত।

Word by Word

• अवक्षेपः: avakṣepa (a specific item/term connected with glass)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव-√क्षिप्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• प्रतिमानम्: standard, measure, model
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-√मा (माने)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• अग्निः: fire
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• गण्डिका: gaṇḍikā (a technical item; lit. small ball/lump)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण्डिका
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• भण्डिका: bhaṇḍikā (a technical item/container)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भण्डिका
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• अधिकरणी: support, base, stand
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकरणी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• पिञ्छः: feather; brush-like implement
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिञ्छ
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• सूत्रम्: thread, string
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• चेल्लम्: cella (a technical item/term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेल्ल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• बोल्लनम्: bollana (a technical item/term)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बोल्लन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• शिरः: head, top
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• उत्सङ्गः: lap, recess, ledge
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सङ्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• मक्षिका: fly; a speck/defect termed ‘makṣikā’
• Type: Noun
• Root: मक्षिका
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• स्वकाय-ईक्षा: ‘seeing one’s own body’ (self-reflection/appearance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वकाय + ईक्षा (√ईक्ष्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• दृतिः: leather bag, skin container
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृति
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• उदक-शरावम्: water-bowl, dish of water
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + शराव
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• अग्निष्ठम्: placed in fire; fire-set
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + स्थ (√स्था)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (विशेषणवत्)

• इति: thus
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: निपातः (उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थः)

• काचम्: glass
• Type: Noun
• Root: काच
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-एकवचनम्

• विद्यात्: one should know/understand
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (ज्ञाने)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Entities Mentioned

• kośa (treasury) [implicit]
• state storekeepers/inspectors [implicit]

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent of listing so many defect-signs for glass?

To give inspectors a standardized checklist so procurement and storage decisions are evidence-based, reducing supplier fraud and protecting state revenue.

Why are fire and water tests mentioned in a governance text?

Because the state’s economic administration relied on practical verification methods; physical tests were part of enforceable quality standards.