This chapter builds conquest-capable power by designing the countryside—settling people, standardizing villages, creating nodal administration, fortifying borders, and using calibrated grants to bind surplus and loyalty to the state. Janapada is engineered: population is imported and stabilized to raise cultivation and control. Villages are standardized in size/spacing and bound by mutual-protection obligations. Administrative legibility is created through graded aggregation nodes for revenue, justice, and logistics. Borders are hardened with gates and frontier forts under antapālas; forest/marginal groups fill security gaps. Dharma-linked incentives (brahmadeya, immunities, exemptions) secure elites and essential services. Cultivators receive prepared fields but face forfeiture if they fail to cultivate—disciplining land use into surplus.
Sutra 1
भूतपूर्वमभूतपूर्वं वा जनपदं परदेशापवाहनेन स्वदेशाभिष्यन्दवमनेन वा निवेशयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.०१ ॥
He should establish a countryside (janapada), whether formerly existing or newly created, by drawing in people from foreign lands or by relieving population pressure (and redeploying people) from his own country.
Sutra 2
शूद्रकर्षकप्रायं कुलशतावरं पञ्चकुलशतपरं ग्रामं क्रोशद्विक्रोशसीमानमन्योन्यारक्षं निवेशयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.०२ ॥
He should establish villages predominantly of śūdra cultivators, with not less than one hundred households and not more than five hundred households, with boundaries at one or two krośas, arranged so that they can mutually protect one another.
Sutra 3
नलीशैलवनभृष्टिदरीसेतुबन्धशमीशाल्मलीक्षीरवृक्षानन्तेषु सीम्नां स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.०३ ॥
At the ends of boundary lines, he should place boundary markers such as reeds, rocks, forests, landslide-scars, ravines, bridge-embankments, and trees like śamī, śālmalī, and milk-bearing trees.
Sutra 4
अष्टशतग्राम्या मध्ये स्थानीयं चतुह्शतग्राम्या द्रोणमुखम् द्विशतग्राम्याः कार्वटिकम् दशग्रामीसंग्रहेण संग्रहं स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.०४ ॥
Among a cluster of eight hundred villages he should establish a regional headquarters (sthānīya); among four hundred villages a droṇamukha; among two hundred villages a market-center (kārvaṭika); and for a collection of ten villages he should establish a local unit (saṃgraha).
Sutra 5
अन्तेष्वन्तपालदुर्गाणि जनपदद्वाराण्यन्तपालाधिष्ठितानि स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.०५ ॥
At the borders he should establish frontier-guard forts—gateways of the countryside—placed under the authority of frontier officers (antapāla).
Sutra 6
तेषामन्तराणि वागुरिकशबरपुलिन्दचण्डालारण्यचरा रक्षेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.०१.०६ ॥
The intervals between those (border posts/forts) should be guarded by forest-ranging groups—trappers (vāgurika), śabaras, pulindas, caṇḍālas, and other woodland roamers.
Sutra 7
अध्यक्षसंख्यायकादिभ्यो गोपस्थानिकानीकस्थचिकित्सकाश्वदमकजङ्घाकारिकेभ्यश्च विक्रयाधानवर्जानि ॥ कZ_०२.०१.०७ब् ॥
To superintendents, accountants, cowherd-officials, local administrators, military-station staff, physicians, horse-trainers, couriers/foot-messengers, and artisans, he should allot holdings that are not to be sold or mortgaged.
Sutra 8
करदेभ्यः कृतक्षेत्राण्यैकपुरुषिकाणि प्रयच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.०८ ॥
To tax-paying subjects he should grant cultivated fields—plots of a size manageable by a single worker/household unit.
Sutra 9
निवेशसमकालं यथागतकं वा परिहारं दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.१७ ॥
He should grant a remission for the period of settlement (establishment), or according to what is appropriate to the situation.
Sutra 10
निवृत्तपरिहारान्पितेवानुगृह्णीयात् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.१८ ॥
When their remissions have ended, he should continue to support them like a father (i.e., maintain benevolent oversight, not abrupt harshness).
Sutra 19
आकरकर्मान्तद्रव्यहस्तिवनव्रजवणिक्पथप्रचारान्वारिस्थलपथपण्यपत्तनानि च निवेशयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.१९ ॥
He should establish (and regulate) mines, manufacturing establishments, stores of materials, elephant-forests, cattle-ranches, trade routes and itineraries, waterways and land routes, marketplaces, and ports/towns of commerce.
Sutra 20
सहोदकमाहार्योदकं वा सेतुं बन्धयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२० ॥
He should construct a setu (dam/embankment/reservoir) either on a natural water-source or by bringing water in (via diversion/canal).
Sutra 21
अन्येषां वा बध्नतां भूमिमार्गवृक्षोपकरणानुग्रहं कुर्यात्पुण्यस्थानारामाणां च ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२१ ॥
Or, when others build (such works), he should grant them support in land, access routes, timber/trees, and equipment—and likewise for meritorious places and public gardens.
Sutra 22
सम्भूयसेतुबन्धादपक्रामतः कर्मकरबलीवर्दाः कर्म कुर्युः ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२२ ॥
If someone withdraws after joining a collective setu-construction, his laborers and draught-oxen shall nevertheless perform the work (i.e., his contribution is enforced).
Sutra 23
व्ययकर्मणि च भागी स्यात् न चांशं लभेत ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२३ ॥
He shall share in the expenditure and labor, but he shall not receive a profit-share (from the returns).
Sutra 24
मत्स्यप्लवहरितपण्यानां सेतुषु राजा स्वाम्यं गच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२४ ॥
Over fish, ferries/boats (or floating operations), and green produce/vegetables associated with the setu-works, the king shall possess proprietary right (i.e., regulate and collect revenue).
Sutra 25
दासाहितकबन्धूनशृण्वतो राजा विनयं ग्राहयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२५ ॥
A person who does not listen to the complaints of slaves, hired laborers/dependents, or kinsmen shall be made to submit to disciplinary correction by the king.
Sutra 26
बालवृद्धव्यसन्यनाथांश्च राजा बिभृयात्स्त्रियमप्रजातां प्रजातायश्च पुत्रान् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२६ ॥
The king should maintain children, the elderly, the distressed, and the unprotected; and he should provide for a woman without offspring, and for the sons of a woman who has borne children.
Sutra 27
बालद्रव्यं ग्रामवृद्धा वर्धयेयुरा व्यवहारप्रापणात्देवद्रव्यं च ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२७ ॥
Village elders should increase (protect and productively manage) the property of minors through proper transactions; likewise, (they should manage) temple/deity property.
Sutra 28
अपत्यदारं मातापितरौ भ्रातृऋनप्राप्तव्यवहारान्भगिनीः कन्या विधवाश्चाबिभ्रतः शक्तिमतो द्वादशपणो दण्डः अन्यत्र पतितेभ्यः अन्यत्र मातुः ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२८ ॥
For a capable person who fails to maintain his children and wife, his mother and father, his brother (when entitled), creditors with legally due claims, and also his sister, an unmarried daughter, and widows—there shall be a fine of twelve paṇas; except in the case of those who have become outcast/fallen, and except the mother (who is not to be excluded).
Sutra 29
पुत्रदारमप्रतिविधाय प्रव्रजतः पूर्वः साहसदण्डः स्त्रियं च प्रव्राजयतः ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२९ ॥
For one who departs into renunciation without first making provision for his son and wife, the (first-grade) sāhasa-daṇḍa penalty for violent/forcible wrongdoing applies; likewise for one who causes a woman to renounce/leave household life.
Sutra 30
लुप्तव्यायामः प्रव्रजेदापृच्छ्य धर्मस्थान् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३० ॥
One who has lost (or is exempt from) his assigned work-duty may depart into renunciation only after informing/obtaining leave from the dharmasthas (judicial authorities).
Sutra 31
अन्यथा नियम्येत ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३१ ॥
Otherwise, he should be restrained/placed under control.
Sutra 32
वानप्रस्थादन्यः प्रव्रजितभावः सजातादन्यः संघः सामुत्थायिकादन्यः समयानुबन्धो वा नास्य जनपदमुपनिविशेत ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३२ ॥
No renunciant order other than the vānaprasthas, no association (saṃgha) composed of persons outside the local lineage/community, and no pact-bound/contractual collective other than a legitimate cooperative (sāmutthāyika) should be allowed to settle in the king’s countryside.
Sutra 33
न च तत्रारामा विहारार्था वा शालाः स्युः ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३३ ॥
And there should not be parks (ārāmas) or halls meant for leisure/roaming in that area.
Sutra 34
नटनर्तकगायनवादकवाग्जीवनकुशीलवा न कर्मविघ्नं कुर्युः ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३४ ॥
Actors, dancers, singers, instrumentalists, professional orators, and performers should not cause obstruction to work/productive activity.
Sutra 35
निराश्रयत्वाद्ग्रामाणां क्षेत्राभिरतत्वाच्च पुरुषाणां कोशविष्टिद्रव्यधान्यरसवृद्धिर्भवति ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३५ ॥
Because villages are kept free of (parasitic) shelters/haunts, and because men remain devoted to the fields, there is growth in the treasury, in corvée/service yield, in goods, in grain, and in taxable produce (rasas).
Sutra 36
देशं परिहरेद् राजा व्ययक्रीडाश्च वारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३६च्द् ॥
—the king should avoid such a region, and he should restrain wasteful expenditures and frivolous amusements.
Sutra 37
स्तेनव्यालविषग्राहैर्व्याधिभिश्च पशुव्रजान् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३७च्द् ॥
The king should protect herds of livestock from thieves, dangerous animals, poisonous bites, crocodiles, and from diseases.
Sutra 38
शोधयेत्पशुसंघैश्च क्षीयमाणं वणिक्पथम् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३८च्द् ॥
He should restore and secure a trade route that is declining, including by organizing it with livestock-convoys (caravans) and associated support.
Sutra 39
रक्षेत्पूर्वकृतान् राजा नवांश्चाभिप्रवर्तयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३९च्द् ॥
The king should protect what has already been built and should also actively initiate new works.
A stable, populated, and productive countryside: villages are sized for viability, spaced for mutual aid, bounded to reduce disputes, protected by frontier gates/forts, and incentivized through grants and material support—yielding food security, predictable revenue, and internal peace.
Non-cultivators lose entitlements: lands are made ‘āchidyānya’ (liable to be taken back/forfeited) for those who do not cultivate; additionally, the frontier architecture (antapāla durgas and janapada gates) implies coercive enforcement against threats and disorder.