This chapter turns measurement into sovereignty: standard units make taxation, payment, procurement, and fort-building computable, comparable, and enforceable. It defines the Mānādhyakṣa’s mandate to master place–time–measure and impose uniform standards. It builds a ladder of units from the smallest to the practical state measures used for land and public works, using bodily and craft references to keep them field-usable yet auditable. By aligning contracts, assessments, and wage calculations, it reduces disputes and fraud. In doing so, it directly strengthens Kośa (revenue integrity) and Durga (engineering precision) for expansion.
Sutra 1
मानाध्यक्ष्यो देशकालमानं विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०१ ॥
The Superintendent of Measures should know the standards of place and time (i.e., spatial and temporal measurement).
Sutra 2
अष्टौ परमाणवो रथचक्रविप्रुट् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०२ ॥
Eight paramāṇu-s (minute particles) make one rathacakra-vipruṭ (a minute speck/dust associated with a chariot wheel).
Sutra 3
ता अष्टौ लिक्षा ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०३ ॥
Eight of those make one likṣā.
Sutra 4
ता अष्तौ यूका ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०४ ॥
Eight of those make one yūkā.
Sutra 5
ता अष्टौ यवमध्यः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०५ ॥
Eight of those make one yava-madhya (the middle-sized barley grain measure).
Sutra 6
अष्टौ यवमध्या अङ्गुलम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०६ ॥
Eight yava-madhya make one aṅgula (finger-breadth).
Sutra 7
मध्यमस्य पुरुषस्य मध्यमाया अनुगुल्या मध्यप्रकर्षो वाङ्गुलम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०७ ॥
The vāṅgula is the middle projection (breadth) of the middle finger of a man of medium build.
Sutra 8
चतुरङ्गुलो धनुर्ग्रहः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०८ ॥
The bow-grip (dhanur-graha) is four aṅgula in measure.
Sutra 9
अष्टाङ्गुला धनुर्मुष्टिः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.०९ ॥
The bow-fist/handle measure (dhanur-muṣṭi) is eight aṅgula in measure.
Sutra 10
द्वादशाङ्गुला वितस्तिः छायापौरुषं च ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१० ॥
A vitasti (span) is twelve aṅgulas; and the ‘shadow-man’ (chāyā-pauruṣa) measure is defined accordingly.
Sutra 11
चतुर्दशाङ्गुलं शमः शलः परीरयः पदं च ॥ कZ_०२.२०.११ ॥
Fourteen aṅgulas constitute the measure called śama—also termed śala or parīraya—and likewise it serves as a ‘pada’ (foot-length) measure.
Sutra 12
द्विवितस्तिररत्निः प्राजापत्यो हस्तः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१२ ॥
Two vitastis make an aratni; this is the prājāpatya hasta (the standard ‘cubit/hand’ measure).
Sutra 13
सधनुर्ग्रहः पौतवविवीतमानम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१३ ॥
The sadhanugraha is the officially verified (vivīta) measure under the department of weights and measures (pautava).
Sutra 14
सधनुर्मुष्टिः कुष्कुः कंसो वा ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१४ ॥
The sadhanurmuṣṭi is also called kuṣku or kaṃsa.
Sutra 15
द्विचत्वारिंशदङ्गुलस्तक्ष्णः क्राकचनिककिष्कुः स्कन्धावारदुर्गराजपरिग्रहमानम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१५ ॥
A takṣṇa of forty-two aṅgulas—also called krākacanikakiṣku—is the measure used for a military camp (skandhāvāra), forts (durga), and the king’s enclosed possessions/holdings (rāja-parigraha).
Sutra 16
चतुष्पञ्चाशदङ्गुलः कूप्यवनहस्तः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१६ ॥
The kūpyavanahasta is fifty-four aṅgulas.
Sutra 17
चतुरशीत्यङ्गुलो व्यामो रज्जुमानं खातपौरुषं च ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१७ ॥
A vyāma is eighty-four aṅgulas; it is the rope-measure (rajju-māna) and is also used as the ‘excavation-man’ (khāta-pauruṣa) standard.
Sutra 18
चतुररत्निर्दण्डो धनुर्नालिका पौरुषं च गार्हपत्यम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१८ ॥
A daṇḍa of four aratnis is the dhanu (bow) and the nālikā; and this pauruṣa is the gārhapatya (household/domestic) standard.
Sutra 19
अष्टशताङ्गुलं धनुः पथिप्राकारमानं पौरुषं चाग्निचित्यानाम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.१९ ॥
A dhanu is eight hundred aṅgulas; it is the standard measure for roads (pathi) and ramparts/walls (prākāra), and also the pauruṣa standard for fire-altar constructions (agnicityā).
Sutra 20
षट्कंसो दण्डो ब्रह्मदेयातिथ्यमानम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२० ॥
A daṇḍa (rod) is six kaṃsas; this is the brahmadeya/ātithya standard (measure) used for grants and guest-right endowments.
Sutra 21
दशदण्डो रज्जुः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२१ ॥
A rajju (measuring rope) is ten daṇḍas.
Sutra 22
द्विरज्जुकः परिदेशः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२२ ॥
A parideśa (a defined land-extent) is two rajjus.
Sutra 23
त्रिरज्जुकं निवर्तनमेकतः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२३ ॥
A nivartana is three rajjus on one side (i.e., defined by a side-length of three rajjus).
Sutra 24
द्विदण्डाधिको बाहुः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२४ ॥
A bāhu is (a measure) exceeding two daṇḍas (i.e., two daṇḍas plus an additional fixed increment).
Sutra 25
द्विधनुःसहस्रं गोरुतम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२५ ॥
A goruta is two thousand dhanus (bows).
Sutra 26
चतुर्गोरुतं योजनम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२६ ॥
A yojana is four gorutas.
Sutra 27
इति देशमानम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२७ ॥
Thus (ends) the standards of territorial/land measurement.
Sutra 28
कालमानमत ऊर्ध्वम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२८ ॥
Next (is) the standard of time-measurement.
Sutra 29
तुटो लवो निमेषः काष्ठा कल्ला नालिका मुहूर्तः पूर्वापरभागौ दिवसो रात्रिः पक्षो मास ऋतुरयनं संवत्सरो युगमिति कालाः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२९ ॥
The time-units are: tuṭa, lava, nimeṣa, kāṣṭhā, kallā, nālikā, muhūrta; the forenoon and afternoon divisions; day, night; fortnight, month; season; solstitial course (ayana); year; and yuga—these are the time measures.
Sutra 30
द्वौ तुटौ लवः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३० ॥
Two tuṭa units constitute one lava (a small unit of time).
Sutra 31
द्वौ लवौ निमेषः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३१ ॥
Two lava units constitute one nimeṣa (blink-moment).
Sutra 32
पञ्चनिमेषाः काष्ठाः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३२ ॥
Five nimeṣas constitute one kāṣṭhā (a minor unit of time).
Sutra 33
त्रिंशत्काष्ठाः कलाः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३३ ॥
Thirty kāṣṭhās constitute one kalā (a larger time unit).
Sutra 34
चत्वारिंशत्कलाः नालिका ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३४ ॥
Forty kalās constitute one nālikā (a standard measured period, typically by a water-clock).
Sutra 35
सुवर्णमाषकाश्चत्वारश्चतुरङ्गुलायामाः कुम्भच्छिद्रमाढकमम्भसो वा नालिका ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३५ ॥
A nālikā is (measured by) a pot-orifice: the orifice is four suvarṇa-māṣakas in size and four aṅgulas in length; alternatively, the outflow (or measure) is one āḍhaka of water—this constitutes a nālikā.
Sutra 36
द्विनालिको मुहूर्तः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३६ ॥
Two nālikās constitute one muhūrta.
Sutra 37
पञ्चदशमुहूर्तो दिवसो रात्रिश्च चैत्रे चाश्वयुजे च मासि भवतः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३७ ॥
In the months of Caitra and Āśvayuja, the day and the night are each fifteen muhūrtas (i.e., equal in length).
Sutra 38
ततः परं त्रिभिर्मुहूर्तैरन्यतरः षण्मासं वर्धते ह्रसते चेति ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३८ ॥
Thereafter, by increments of three muhūrtas, one (day or night) increases for six months while the other correspondingly decreases.
Sutra 39
छायायामष्टपौरुष्यामष्टादशभागश्छेदः षट्पौरुष्यां चतुर्दशभागः त्रिपौरुष्यामष्टभागः द्विपौरुष्यां षड्भागः पौरुष्यां चतुर्भागः अष्टाङ्गुलायां त्रयो दशभागाः चतुरङ्गुलायां त्रयोऽष्टभागाः अच्छायो मध्याह्न इति ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३९ ॥
By the length of a shadow: when it measures eight ‘pauruṣa’ units, the cut-off is 18 parts; at six pauruṣas, 14 parts; at three pauruṣas, 8 parts; at two pauruṣas, 6 parts; at one pauruṣa, 4 parts; at eight aṅgulas, 3/10 parts; at four aṅgulas, 3/8 parts. When there is no shadow, it is midday.
Sutra 40
ज्येष्ठामूलीय आषाढश्च ग्रीष्मः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६० ॥
The season ‘Grīṣma’ (summer) consists of the months Jyeṣṭhāmūlīya and Āṣāḍha.
Sutra 41
शिशिराद्युत्तरायणम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६१ ॥
Uttarāyaṇa begins with Śiśira (the cold season).
Sutra 42
वर्षादि दक्षिणायनम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६२ ॥
Dakṣiṇāyaṇa begins with Varṣā (the rainy season).
Sutra 43
द्व्ययनः संवत्सरः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६३ ॥
A saṃvatsara (year) consists of two ayanas (half-years).
Sutra 44
पञ्चसंवत्सरो युगम् । इति ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६४ ॥
A yuga is a period of five years—thus (is the rule).
Sutra 45
दिवसस्य हरत्यर्कः षष्टिभागमृतौ ततः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६५अब् ॥
In each season, the sun (arka) takes away one-sixtieth part of a day (i.e., effects a seasonal shift in day-length/time).
Sutra 46
करोत्येकमहश्छेदं तथैवैकं च चन्द्रमाः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६५च्द् ॥
Thus, (over time) it produces a cut/adjustment of one day; likewise, the moon also (produces) one (day’s adjustment).
Sutra 47
एवमर्धतृतीयानामब्दानामधिमासकम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६६अब् ॥
In this manner, for years accumulating by halves and thirds, an intercalary month (adhimāsa) is to be applied.
Sutra 48
ग्रीष्मे जनयतः पूर्वं पञ्चाब्दान्ते च पश्चिमम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.६६च्द् ॥
The intercalation is generated in summer: first (an earlier insertion) and, at the end of the five-year cycle, a later one.
Sutra 49
अर्धन्यूनश्चान्द्रमासः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.४९ ॥
The lunar month (cāndra-māsa) is half a day less (i.e., twenty-nine and a half day-nights).
Sutra 50
सप्तविंशतिर्नाक्षत्रमासः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५० ॥
A nakṣatra-month consists of twenty-seven days, reckoned by lunar mansions.
Sutra 51
द्वात्रिंशद्बलमासः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५१ ॥
A bala-month consists of thirty-two days.
Sutra 52
पञ्चत्रिंशदश्ववाहायाः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५२ ॥
For the ‘horse-transport (aśvavāhā)’ reckoning, the month is thirty-five days.
Sutra 53
चत्वारिंशद्धस्तिवाहायाः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५३ ॥
For the ‘elephant-transport (hastivāhā)’ reckoning, the month is forty days.
Sutra 54
द्वौ मासाव् ऋतुः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५४ ॥
A season (ṛtu) consists of two months.
Sutra 55
श्रावणः प्रौष्ठपदश्च वर्षाः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५५ ॥
Śrāvaṇa and Prauṣṭhapada constitute the rainy season (varṣāḥ).
Sutra 56
आश्वयुजः कार्त्तिकश्च शरत् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५६ ॥
Āśvayuja and Kārttika constitute autumn (śarat).
Sutra 57
मार्गशीर्षः पौषश्च हेमन्तः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५७ ॥
Mārgaśīrṣa and Pauṣa constitute hemanta (early winter).
Sutra 58
माघः फाल्गुनश्च शिशिरः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५८ ॥
Māgha and Phālguna constitute śiśira (late winter).
Sutra 59
चैत्रो वैशाखश्च वसन्तः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.५९ ॥
Caitra and Vaiśākha constitute spring (vasanta).
Stable prices and fair exchange, reduced fraud in markets and state procurement, accurate assessment for taxes/wages, and reliable engineering dimensions for forts and camps—collectively increasing public trust and state solvency.
This excerpt defines standards rather than listing punishments; in Kauṭilya’s administrative logic, deviation from authorized measures typically triggers fines, confiscation of goods, and disciplinary action against responsible officials after inspection by the measuring authority.