Chapter 2.18 turns the armoury into an auditable production-and-preservation system so the king’s treasury reliably becomes coercive power. Weapons are governed, not merely made: categories enable procurement, inventory, and inspection. Labor and wages are time-bound and output-verifiable to deter fraud and ensure uniform quality. Defective weapons are treated as strategic liabilities that collapse deterrence and invite corruption. Storage is preventive security: rotate/relocate, ventilate and sun stores, and re-site items by vulnerability to heat, moisture, and worms. Outcome: higher readiness, lower spoilage/leakage, and stronger coercive credibility—the practical basis of sovereignty.
Sutra 1
कृतकर्मप्रमाणकालवेतनफलनिष्पत्तिभिः कारयेत्स्वभूमिषु च स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०१ ॥
He shall have work executed with records of: work completed, quantity/measure, time, wages, and final output; and he shall station (workers/operations) on state land.
Sutra 2
स्थानपरिवर्तनमातपप्रवातप्रदानं च बहुशः कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०२ ॥
He should frequently change the place (of storage) and provide sunlight and ventilation.
Sutra 3
ऊष्मोपस्नेहक्रिमिभिरुपहन्यमानमन्यथा स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०३ ॥
If it is being damaged by heat, moisture/grease, or worms, he should store it differently (i.e., change the method/place of keeping).
Sutra 4
जातिरूपलक्षणप्रमाणागममूल्यनिक्षेपैश्चोपलभेत ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०४ ॥
He shall ascertain (goods) by their class/type, form, distinguishing marks, measure, source of acquisition, value, and deposit/entry (record).
Sutra 5
सर्वतोभद्रजामदग्न्यबहुमुखविश्वासघातिसंघाटीयानकपर्जन्यकबाहूर्ध्वबाह्वर्धबाहूनि स्थितयन्त्राणि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०५ ॥
The following are fixed (emplaced) machines: sarvatobhadra, jāmadagnya, abahumukha, viśvāsaghāti, saṃghāṭī, yānaka, parjanyaka, bāhūrdhva, bāhva, and ardhabāhu.
Sutra 6
पाञ्चालिकदेवदण्डसूकरिकामुसलयष्टिहस्तिवारकतालवृन्तमुद्गरगदास्पृक्तलाकुद्दालास्फाटिमोत्पाटिमोद्घाटिमशतघ्नित्रिशूलचक्राणि चलयन्त्राणि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०६ ॥
The following are mobile machines: pāñcālika, devadaṇḍa, sūkarikā, musala, yaṣṭi, hastivāraka, tālavṛnta, mudgara, gadā, spṛktalā, kuddālā, sphāṭim, otpāṭim, odghāṭim, aśataghnī, triśūla, and cakra.
Sutra 7
शक्तिप्रासकुन्तहाटकभिण्डिपालशूलतोमरवराहकर्णकणयकर्पणत्रासिकादीनि च हुलमुखानि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०७ ॥
And the hulamukha weapons include: śakti, prāsa, kunta, hāṭaka, bhiṇḍipāla, śūla, tomara, varāhakarṇa, kaṇaya, karpaṇa, trāsikā, and others.
Sutra 8
तालचापदारवशार्ङ्गाणि कार्मुककोदण्डद्रूणा धनूंषि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०८ ॥
Bows are of the following types: made of tāla (palm), cāpa-wood, wood (dārava), the śārṅga type; and the varieties called kārmuka, kodaṇḍa, and drūṇa.
Sutra 9
मूर्वार्कशनगवेधुवेणुस्नायूनि ज्याः ॥ कZ_०२.१८.०९ ॥
Bowstrings (jyāḥ) are made from mūrva, arka, śana, gavedhu, bamboo, and sinew.
Sutra 10
वेणुशरशलाकादण्डासननाराचाश्चेषवः ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१० ॥
Missiles (iṣavaḥ) include bamboo arrows, reed/shafted arrows, peg-like darts, staff-shafts, and iron-pointed arrows (nārāca).
Sutra 11
तेषां मुखानि छेदनभेदनताडनान्यायसास्थिदारवाणि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.११ ॥
Their heads/points are for cutting, piercing, and striking; and are made of iron, bone, or wood.
Sutra 12
निस्त्रिंशमण्डलाग्रासियष्टयः खड्गाः ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१२ ॥
Swords (khaḍgāḥ) include the nistriṃśa, maṇḍalāgra, asi, and yaṣṭi types.
Sutra 13
खड्गमहिषवारणविषाणदारुवेणुमूलानि त्सरवः ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१३ ॥
Scabbards/sheaths (tsaravaḥ) are made from sword-fittings, buffalo horn, elephant tusk, wood, and bamboo-root.
Sutra 14
परशुकुठारपट्टसखनित्रकुद्दालक्रकचकाण्डच्छेदनाः क्षुरकल्पाः ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१४ ॥
Razor-class blades (kṣurakalpāḥ) include the axe (paraśu), hatchet (kuṭhāra), cleaver/board-knife (paṭṭasa), spade/pick (khanitra), hoe (kuddāla), sickle (kraka), saw (caka), and branch-cutter (kāṇḍacchedana).
Sutra 15
यन्त्रगोष्पणमुष्टिपाषाणरोचनीदृषदश्चाश्मायुधानि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१५ ॥
Stone-weapons (aśmāyudhāni) include engine-propelled stones, sling-stones, fist-stones, and whetstone-like/flat stones used as missiles.
Sutra 16
लोहजालिकापट्टकवचसूत्रकङ्कटशिंशुमारकखड्गिधेनुकहस्तिगोचर्मखुरशृङ्गसंघातं वर्माणि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१६ ॥
Armor (varmāṇi) includes iron mesh, layered/laminated armor, stitched/corded armor, and coats made from hides—such as crocodile (śiṃśumāra), rhinoceros (khaḍgī), cow (dhenukā), and elephant-hide—also compounded from hoof and horn pieces.
Sutra 17
शिरस्त्राणकण्ठत्राणकूर्पासकञ्चुकवारवाणपट्टनागोदरिकाः पेटीचर्महस्तिकर्णतालमूलधमनिकाकपाटकिटिकाप्रतिहतबलाहकान्ताश्चावरणाणि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१७ ॥
Protective coverings (āvaraṇāṇi) include head-guards, throat-guards, cuirasses/arm-coats, tunics, and various protective wrappings and pads—such as leather cases, elephant-ear leather, palm-root fiber coverings, bladder/leather pouches, and reinforced protective panels.
Sutra 18
हस्तिरथवाजिनां योग्याभाण्डमालंकारिकं सम्नाहकल्पनाश्चोपकरणानि ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१८ ॥
[He shall supervise] the suitable gear, stores, ornaments, harnessing arrangements, and auxiliary implements for elephants, chariots, and horses.
Sutra 19
ऐन्द्रजालिकमौपनिषदिकं च कर्म ॥ कZ_०२.१८.१९ ॥
And [he shall oversee] operations of aindrajālika (conjuring/illusionary techniques) as well as aupaniṣadika (esoteric/ritual-technical) procedures.
Sutra 20
क्षयव्ययौ च जानीयात्कुप्यानामायुधेश्वरः ॥ कZ_०२.१८.२०च्द् ॥
The Superintendent of Armoury shall also ascertain the loss/decay and the expenditure of movable stores (kupyāni).
Higher public safety and stability through reliable defense readiness, fewer accidents from degraded weapons, reduced fiscal leakage via standardized procurement, and sustained deterrence that prevents raids and disorder.
While this unit does not state a numeric fine, Arthashāstric practice implies graded daṇḍa: restitution for loss (damage/spoilage), fines for negligence and misreporting (nikṣepa/inventory fraud), and dismissal or harsher punishment if corruption endangers state security.