Sutra 18

Devanagari script

परविषये तु पण्यप्रतिपण्ययोरर्घं मूल्यं चागमय्य शुल्कवर्तन्यातिवाहिकगुल्मतरदेयभक्तभागव्ययशुद्धमुदयं पश्येत् ॥ कZ_०२.१६.१८ ॥

Transliteration

paraviṣaye tu paṇyapratipaṇyayor arghaṃ mūlyaṃ cāgamayya śulkavartanyātivāhikagulmataradeyabhaktabhāgavyayaśuddham udayaṃ paśyet

Translation

In another territory, having ascertained the market-rate and the cost-price of the goods and counter-goods, he should examine the net revenue—purified (net of) customs, road-cess, transport charges, guard-post charges, ferry charges, payments due, rations, shares/commissions, and other expenses.

Word by Word

परविषयेin a foreign territory/market

तुbut/indeed

पण्यप्रतिपण्ययोःof (or in the case of) the commodity and the counter-commodity

अर्घम्the assessed value/valuation

मूल्यम्the price (market price)

चand

आगमय्यhaving ascertained (by inquiry/verification)

शुल्कवर्तन्यातिवाहिकगुल्मतरदेयभक्तभागव्ययशुद्धम्net of customs duty, road/route toll, transport charges, guard-post levies, ferry charges, other dues, rations, shares/commissions, and expenses

उदयम्the net proceeds (profit)

पश्येत्should examine/should determine

Entities Mentioned

traders/state trade agent (implied)

customs authority

guard posts (gulma)

ferry/transport services

FAQs

What is the governance innovation in this verse?

A structured ‘net revenue’ calculation that forces officials to account for all tolls and logistics costs before deciding on inter-regional trade.

Why list so many cost items explicitly?

To prevent hidden leakages, double-charging, or optimistic reporting; it standardizes evaluation across routes and officials.