Sutra 5
Devanagari script
श्रेष्ठानां पाण्डु श्वेतं चाप्राप्तकम् ॥ कZ_०२.१३.०५ ॥
Transliteration
śreṣṭhānāṃ pāṇḍu śvetaṃ cāprāptakam
Translation
For the best grade, pale or whitish coloration is unacceptable (it indicates deficiency/impurity).
Word by Word
श्रेष्ठानाम्of the best/superior (quality) ones
श्रेष्ठानाम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective (used substantively)
Rootश्रेष्ठ (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (genitive plural); विशेषण-प्रयोगः ‘श्रेष्ठ’ (superior/excellent) used as a noun: ‘of the best/superior ones’
पाण्डुpale, yellowish
पाण्डु:
TypeAdjective
Rootपाण्डु (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपम् (indeclinable-like adjectival form in -u); here used predicatively: ‘pale/yellowish’
श्वेतम्white
श्वेतम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्वेत (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; ‘white’ (agreeing with an implied neuter noun such as ‘वर्णम्/रूपम्/द्रव्यम्’ depending on context)
चand
च:
TypeParticle
Rootच
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्; coordination ‘and’
अप्राप्तकम्not obtained; unattained; unsuccessful (in being obtained)
अप्राप्तकम्:
TypeAdjective (past-participial derivative)
Rootअ-प्राप्तक (प्राप्त + क प्रत्यय; with privative अ-)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; नञ्-समासभावः (अ-); अर्थः ‘not obtained/unsuccessful/unattained’ (qualifying an implied neuter noun)
Entities Mentioned
M
mint/assay officials (implied)G
gold suppliers (implied)FAQs
Because discoloration signals alloying or impurity; explicit rejection rules protect the mint’s integrity and stabilize currency/treasury value.