Sutra 14

Devanagari script

ततः कर्षोत्तरं पलं पलोत्तरं दशपलं द्वादश पञ्चदश विंशतिरिति पदानि कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१९.१४ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ karṣottaraṃ palaṃ palottaraṃ daśapalaṃ dvādaśa pañcadaśa viṃśatiriti padāni kārayet

Translation

Then he should have (standard) weight-pieces made in steps: a pala exceeding by a karṣa; then in pala-increments; then ten-pala, twelve, fifteen, and twenty (units) as the set of pieces.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter; then
• Type: Pronoun (indeclinable adverbial use)
• Root: तद्
• Form: ablative singular (तस्मात्) used adverbially = 'thereafter/then'

• कर्ष-उत्तरम्: (a pala) having a karṣa as the increment/standard; karṣa-based
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: neuter nominative/accusative singular; agrees with implied 'पलम्' (a pala)

• पलम्: a pala (weight unit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल
• Form: neuter nominative/accusative singular; weight-measure term

• पल-उत्तरम्: having a pala as the increment/standard; pala-based
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: neuter nominative/accusative singular; qualifies implied 'दशपलम्' etc. as successive higher units

• दशपलम्: ten palas
• Type: Noun (numeral compound)
• Root: पल
• Form: neuter nominative/accusative singular; 'ten-pala (weight)'

• द्वादश: twelve (units)
• Type: Numeral
• Root: द्वादशन्
• Form: indeclinable numeral used elliptically with implied 'पलानि/पलम्' (weights)

• पञ्चदश: fifteen (units)
• Type: Numeral
• Root: पञ्चदशन्
• Form: indeclinable numeral used elliptically with implied 'पलानि/पलम्'

• विंशतिः: twenty (units)
• Type: Numeral
• Root: विंशति
• Form: feminine nominative singular; used as a numeral in list; elliptic with implied 'पलानि/पलम्'

• इति: thus; as follows
• Type: Particle/Quotative
• Root: इति
• Form: indeclinable; marks end of enumeration/quotation

• पदानि: units/denominations; steps
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद
• Form: neuter nominative/accusative plural; object of कारयेत्

• कारयेत्: should cause (them) to be made/established; should institute
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (णिच्)
• Form: causative (णिच्) of √कृ; optative/vidhi-liṅ, 3rd person singular, parasmaipada; 'should cause to be made/established'

Entities Mentioned

• inspectors
• traders (regulated)
• state workshop

More Details

FAQs

Why include non-decimal steps like 12 and 15?

They support common commercial partitions and customary lot sizes, allowing accurate weighing without ad hoc or improvised pieces.