Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 14 Sutra 53 - Arthashastra | German | Vedapath

Kautilya

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

Er soll (als Zeichen/Prüfungen für) fehlerhaftes Glas (kāca) Folgendes erkennen: Absetzen/Ausfällung, Nichterreichen des Standardmaßes/-gewichts, Reaktionen bei der Feuerprobe, Knötchen/Klumpen, Sprödigkeit und Zerbröseln, federartige Streifen, fadenartige Linien, tuchartige Schicht, blasenartige Aufwölbung, kopfartige Ausstülpung, Durchhängen, Fliegensprenkel, Sichtprüfung des Glaskörpers selbst, Blasenbildung/Abschälung wie Haut, Wasserschalenprobe und Rückstand/Schlacke nach der Feuerprobe—so soll man Glas erkennen.

Word by Word

अवक्षेपःavakṣepa (a specific item/term connected with glass)

प्रतिमानम्standard, measure, model

अग्निःfire

गण्डिकाgaṇḍikā (a technical item; lit. small ball/lump)

भण्डिकाbhaṇḍikā (a technical item/container)

अधिकरणीsupport, base, stand

पिञ्छःfeather; brush-like implement

सूत्रम्thread, string

चेल्लम्cella (a technical item/term)

बोल्लनम्bollana (a technical item/term)

शिरःhead, top

उत्सङ्गःlap, recess, ledge

मक्षिकाfly; a speck/defect termed ‘makṣikā’

स्वकाय-ईक्षा‘seeing one’s own body’ (self-reflection/appearance)

दृतिःleather bag, skin container

उदक-शरावम्water-bowl, dish of water

अग्निष्ठम्placed in fire; fire-set

इतिthus

काचम्glass

विद्यात्one should know/understand

Entities Mentioned

kośa (treasury) [implicit]

state storekeepers/inspectors [implicit]

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.