Kantakashodhana Adhyaya 5 Sutra 15 - Arthashastra | German | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 15

Devanagari script

पुराणचोरगोपालकव्याधश्वगणिनश्च वनचोराटविकाननुप्रविष्टाः प्रभूतकूटहिरण्यकुप्यभाण्डेषु सार्थव्रजग्रामेष्वेनानभियोजयेयुः ॥ कZ_०४.५.१५ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇacora-gopālaka-vyādha-śvagaṇinaś ca vanacorāṭavikān anupraviṣṭāḥ prabhūta-kūṭa-hiraṇya-kupyabhāṇḍeṣu sārtha-vraja-grāmeṣu enān abhiyojayeyuḥ

Translation

Agents (posing as) former thieves, herdsmen, hunters, and dog-handlers, having infiltrated forest-robbers and tribesmen of the wilderness, should set them up for accusation/prosecution in caravan-routes, cattle-pens, and villages where there is abundant counterfeit gold and valuable goods/wares.

Word by Word

पुराणचोरhabitual/old thief

गोपालकcowherd / cattle-keeper

व्याधhunter

श्वगणिनःdog-keeper / leader of a pack of dogs

चand

वनचोराःforest thieves

आटविकान्forest-dwellers / tribesmen

अनुप्रविष्टाःhaving entered / infiltrated

प्रभूतabundant, large (in quantity)

कूटहिरण्यcounterfeit gold/treasure

कुप्यभाण्डेषुin vessels/containers of valuable goods (merchandise)

सार्थव्रजग्रामेषुin caravans, cattle-herd settlements, and villages

एतान्these (persons)

अभियोजयेयुःshould cause (them) to be charged / should prosecute

Entities Mentioned

undercover agents

forest robbers

āṭavikas (forest tribes)

caravans (sārtha)

villages and pastoral stations

FAQs

Why specify cover roles like herdsman, hunter, and dog-handler?

These roles naturally move through forests and frontier zones, enabling plausible access to bandit groups and their supply chains.

What is meant by arranging accusation in caravan routes/villages with abundant goods?

It indicates controlled operational theaters where evidence, witnesses, and contraband flows are concentrated—improving the success of prosecution and disruption.