Sutra 13

Devanagari script

अकारादयो वर्णास्त्रिषष्टिः ॥ कZ_०२.१०.१३ ॥

Transliteration

akārādayo varṇās triṣaṣṭiḥ

Translation

The letters (varṇas), beginning with “a”, are sixty-three in number.

Word by Word

• अकारादयः: (letters) beginning with ‘a’ (i.e., starting from the vowel a)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; ‘अकार-आदि’ (अकारः आदिः येषाम् ते) इति ‘आदि’-समास; समासान्त-प्रत्ययः ‘आदि’

• वर्णाः: letters; phonemes
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• त्रिषष्टिः: sixty-three
• Type: Numeral
• Root: त्रिषष्टि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; संख्या (63)

More Details

FAQs

What is the governance purpose of listing a fixed number of letters?

To standardize scribal practice and reduce ambiguity in copying, archiving, and verifying state documents.

Does the exact count matter administratively?

Less than the principle: Kautilya signals a codified curriculum for scribes to ensure uniform literacy and reliable documentation.