Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 17
Devanagari script
द्विगुणलोहां तुलामतः षण्णवत्यङ्गुलायामां परिमाणीं कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१९.१७ ॥
Transliteration
dviguṇalohāṃ tulāmataḥ ṣaṇṇavatyaṅgulāyāmāṃ parimāṇīṃ kārayet
Translation
তিনি তুলামত (মানক ওজন/তুলা-পদ্ধতি) অনুযায়ী দ্বিগুণ পুরু ধাতুর, ছিয়ানব্বই অঙ্গুল দীর্ঘ একটি পরিমাণী (মানক মাপদণ্ড/দণ্ড) তৈরি করাবেন।
Word by Word
द्विगुणलोहाम्a balance/scale made of (or specified by) ‘double-iron’ standard
द्विगुणलोहाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootलोह
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; विशेषणयुक्ता (द्वि-गुण-लोहा) ‘द्विगुणं लोहं यस्याः सा’ इति तुला-विशेषणम्
तुलाम्a weighing balance
तुलाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootतुला
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्म (कारयेत् इत्यस्य)
अतःthen/thereafter
अतः:
TypeParticle
Rootअतः
Formअव्यय; ‘अतः/ततः’ अर्थे—‘thereafter/then/therefrom’ (निर्देश-क्रमसूचक)
षण्णवति-अङ्गुल-आयामाम्(having) a length of ninety-six aṅgulas
षण्णवति-अङ्गुल-आयामाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootआयाम
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘षण्णवत्यङ्गुलायामा’ इत्यस्य विग्रहः—‘षण्णवत्यः अङ्गुलाः (यस्याः) आयामः’ → ‘having a length of 96 aṅgulas’; तुला-विशेषणम्
परिमाणीम्of standard measure/dimensions
परिमाणीम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootपरिमाण
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘परिमाणयुक्ताम्/मानक-रूपाम्’ (तुलाम् विशेषयति)
कारयेत्should have (it) made / should cause (it) to be made
कारयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; causative (णिच्) — ‘कारयेत्’ = ‘should cause to be made/constructed’
Entities Mentioned
T
tulā (balance/weights)P
parimāṇī (standard measuring instrument)A
aṅgula (unit of length)FAQs
It creates a uniform, inspectable state standard that reduces private tampering, enables consistent audits, and supports fair taxation and trade enforcement.
Because the measure must align with the officially accepted system of weights/balances, ensuring interoperability across markets and offices.