Sutra 3

Devanagari script

तावन्मात्रमेकद्वारं खातगुप्तं स्वादुफलगुल्मगुच्छमकण्टकिद्रुममुत्तानतोयाशयं दान्तमृगचतुष्पदं भग्ननखदंष्ट्रव्यालं मार्गयुकहस्तिहस्तिनीकलभं मृगवनं विहारार्थं राज्ञः कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२.०३ ॥

Transliteration

tāvanmātram ekadvāraṃ khāta-guptaṃ svādu-phala-gulma-guccham akaṇṭaki-drumam uttāna-toyāśayaṃ dānta-mṛga-catuṣpadaṃ bhagna-nakha-daṃṣṭra-vyālaṃ mārga-yukta-hasti-hastinī-kalabhaṃ mṛga-vanaṃ vihārārthaṃ rājñaḥ kārayet

Translation

He should have a royal hunting-park (mṛgavana) made for the king’s recreation: of suitable size, with a single gate, protected by a moat/ditch; containing thickets and clusters with sweet fruits, trees without thorns, shallow water-reservoirs; stocked with tame deer and quadrupeds; with predators rendered harmless (broken claws and fangs); provided with paths; and furnished with elephants—males, females, and calves.

Word by Word

• तावन्मात्रम्: only so much; of that extent
• Type: Adjective (quantifier)
• Root: तावत्/मात्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; परिमाणवाचकं विशेषणम्

• एकद्वारम्: having one gate; single-entranced
• Type: Noun (with numeral adjective)
• Root: एक/द्वार
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘एकं द्वारं यस्य’

• खातगुप्तम्: protected by a ditch; secured by excavation
• Type: Adjective (past participial)
• Root: खात/गुप्त
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘खातेन गुप्तम्’ (खात = खनित-खात/खाई)

• स्वादुफलगुल्मगुच्छम्: with sweet fruits, shrubs, and clumps of vegetation
• Type: Noun phrase (compound)
• Root: स्वादु/फल/गुल्म/गुच्छ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘स्वादूनि फलानि च गुल्माः च गुच्छाः च’ (समाहारद्वन्द्वभावः)

• अकण्टकिद्रुमम्: with thornless trees
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: अ/कण्टकिन्/द्रुम
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘कण्टकः नास्ति यस्य’ (अकण्टकिन्) विशेषणं + द्रुम

• उत्तानतोयाशयम्: having shallow water-bodies/ponds
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: उत्तान/तोय/आशय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘उत्तानः (अल्पगम्भीरः) तोयाशयः’

• दान्तमृगचतुष्पदम्: with tame deer and other quadrupeds
• Type: Noun phrase (compound)
• Root: दान्त/मृग/चतुष्पद
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘दान्ताः मृगाः च चतुष्पदाः च’ (समाहारद्वन्द्व)

• भग्ननखदंष्ट्रव्यालम्: with wild beasts whose claws and fangs are broken (made harmless)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: भग्न/नख/दंष्ट्र/व्याल
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘भग्नौ नखौ दंष्ट्रे च यस्य सः (व्यालः)’—अर्थतः हिंस्रव्यालानां नख-दंष्ट्र-भङ्गेन निरुपद्रवत्वम्

• मार्गयुकहस्तिहस्तिनीकलभम्: with elephants—males, females, and calves—trained/fit for the paths
• Type: Noun phrase (compound)
• Root: मार्ग/युग/हस्ति/हस्तिनी/कलभ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘मार्गे युक्ताः (प्रशिक्षिताः/उपयुक्ताः) हस्तिनः हस्तिन्यः कलभाः च’ (समाहारद्वन्द्व)

• मृगवनम्: a deer-forest; game preserve
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग/वन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘मृगाणां वनम्’

• विहारार्थम्: for recreation; for sport
• Type: Noun (purpose expression)
• Root: विहार/अर्थ
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘विहारस्य अर्थम्’ = प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made; should cause (it) to be constructed
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (कारयति) — causative

Entities Mentioned

• rājā (king)
• mṛga-vana (hunting park)
• hasti/hastinī/kalabha (elephants)
• mṛga/catuṣpada (game animals)
• vyāla (predators)

More Details

FAQs

Why specify a single gate and moat for a hunting park?

It is a security and control design: regulating access, preventing escapes, and reducing assassination or disorder risks in a leisure setting.

What does 'predators with broken claws and fangs' indicate administratively?

A controlled environment—risk is engineered out to protect the ruler while preserving the appearance/utility of a game reserve.