Sutra 96

Devanagari script

चर्मणां मृदु स्निग्धं बहुलरोम च श्रेष्ठम् ॥ कZ_०२.११.९६ ॥

Transliteration

carmaṇāṃ mṛdu snigdhaṃ bahularoma ca śreṣṭham

Translation

Among leather goods, that which is soft, glossy/oily-finished, and thickly haired is considered the best grade.

Word by Word

• चर्मणाम्: of hides/leathers
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन्
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; ‘चर्मन्’ (त्वक्/चर्म)

• मृदु: soft
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम् (चर्म इत्यस्य गुणः)

• स्निग्धम्: smooth/oily, glossy
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम् (चर्म इत्यस्य गुणः)

• बहुलरोम: having abundant hair (thick-haired)
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: बहुल-रोमन्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; ‘बहुलं रोम यस्मिन् तत्’—विशेषणम् (चर्म इत्यस्य गुणः)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• श्रेष्ठम्: is the best / excellent
• Type: Adjective (superlative)
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (उत्तमत्वनिर्देशः)

Entities Mentioned

• state storekeepers/procurement officers (implied)
• leather/hide merchants (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative purpose does this sutra serve?

It defines objective quality markers for leather so state buyers can grade, price, and detect adulteration/substitution.

What are the three ‘best-grade’ markers?

Softness (mṛdu), good finish/unctuousness (snigdha), and abundant hair/fur (bahularoma).