Sutra 24

Devanagari script

वारिपथे वा यानभागकपथ्यदनपण्यप्रतिपण्यार्घप्रमाणयात्राकालभयप्रतीकारपण्यपत्तनचारित्राण्युपलभेत ॥ कZ_०२.१६.२४ ॥

Transliteration

vāripathe vā yānabhāga-kapathya-adanapaṇya-pratipaṇya-argha-pramāṇa-yātrā-kāla-bhaya-pratīkāra-paṇya-pattana-cāritrāṇy upalabheta

Translation

Or, on the water-route, he should ascertain: transport shares/charges, what is fit or unfit (for carriage), non-tradable goods, barter/return commodities, prevailing prices, measures/standards, travel duration, dangers and their countermeasures, marketable goods, port practices, and local commercial customs.

Word by Word

• वारिपथे: on the water-route / in the sea-route
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारिपथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; (वारि + पथ) = जलमार्गे

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• यानभागक: collectors of transport-share/dues (carriage/boat freight share collectors)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यानभागक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-समासाङ्ग/समाहार-प्रयोग); (यान + भागक) = यानस्य भाग-ग्रहणकर्ता

• पथ्य: route dues / road tolls
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथ्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग); ‘पथ्य’ = पथ-सम्बन्धि शुल्क/उचित देय

• अदन: provisions / food expenses
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग); ‘अदन’ = भोजन/आहार-व्यय

• पण्य: commodities / merchandise
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग)

• प्रतिपण्य: counter-goods / return merchandise (for exchange)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपण्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग); (प्रति + पण्य) = प्रत्युपकारार्थं विनिमय-वस्तु

• अर्घ: price / value
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग)

• प्रमाण: measurements / standards
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग)

• यात्रा: journeys / transport operations
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग)

• काल: time / season
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग)

• भय: dangers / risks
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग)

• प्रतीकार: countermeasures / remedies
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतीकार
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग)

• पण्यपत्तन: trading ports / market towns
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्यपत्तन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (सूची-प्रयोग); (पण्य + पत्तन) = व्यापार-नगरी/बन्दर

• चारित्राणि: customs / practices / usages
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारित्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन; ‘चारित्र’ = आचार/व्यवहार/प्रथा

• उपलभेत: should ascertain / should obtain (information)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-लभ्
• Form: लोट् (विधिलिङ्-समर्थ अर्थ: ‘should/ought to’); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; धातु: लभ्; उपसर्ग: उप

Entities Mentioned

• water-route authorities (implied)
• ports (pattana)
• merchants/ship operators (implied)

More Details

FAQs

Why does Kautilya list so many variables for water-route trade?

Because waterborne commerce is high-volume but high-risk; governance requires integrated intelligence on pricing, standards, cargo rules, and security to prevent loss and revenue evasion.

What modern administrative functions does this resemble?

A combined port authority + customs + maritime safety + market intelligence unit (tariffs, prohibited cargo, standards, risk advisories).