Sutra 27

Devanagari script

एष प्रदेशो बह्वल्पयोः ॥ कZ_०२.१९.२७ ॥

Transliteration

eṣa pradeśo bahvalpayoḥ

Translation

This is the scale-range (standard span) for large and small measures.

Word by Word

• एषः: this (one/this)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• प्रदेशः: region; district; locality
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदेश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• बह्वल्पयोः: of the many and the few (i.e., of large and small [cases/quantities])
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: बहु + अल्प
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; द्विवचनार्थे समाहार/इतरेतर-प्रयोगः; षष्ठी-बहुवचन? (actually: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन ending -योः); here: षष्ठी-द्विवचन (genitive dual)

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FAQs

Why does Kautilya emphasize a defined 'range' for measures?

To prevent ambiguity in transactions and inspections; a known standard range reduces disputes and fraud.