Sutra 2

Devanagari script

हिरण्यधान्यापचयो व्ययः ॥ कZ_०९.४.०२ ॥

Transliteration

hiraṇya-dhānya-apacayo vyayaḥ.

Translation

Diminution of gold and grain is “expenditure” (vyaya).

Word by Word

• हिरण्यधान्यापचयः: depletion/shortfall of gold/cash and grain (treasury and granary stocks)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपचय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासः—(हिरण्य-धान्ययोः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः + अपचय (नपुंसक/पुं प्रयोगानुसार; अत्र पुं प्रथमा एकवचनरूपेण)

• व्ययः: expenditure; outlay
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

Entities Mentioned

• gold/treasury (hiraṇya)
• grain stores (dhānya)

More Details

FAQs

What does the pairing of gold and grain indicate in Kautilya’s fiscal view?

He treats both money and staples as core state resources: currency for payments and grain for sustaining troops and population during campaigns or shocks.