Sutra 25

Devanagari script

द्विधनुःसहस्रं गोरुतम् ॥ कZ_०२.२०.२५ ॥

Transliteration

dvidhanuḥsahasraṃ gorutam

Translation

A goruta is two thousand dhanus (bows).

Word by Word

• द्वि: two (as a numerical prefix)
• Type: Numeral
• Root: द्वि
• Form: संख्या-शब्दः; पूर्वपद-रूपेण समासे प्रयुक्तः (द्विधनुः- इत्यत्र)

• धनुः: dhanus (a unit of length; lit. ‘bow’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (समासे अव्यक्त-विभक्ति); मापन-परिमाणवाचकः

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• Type: Noun (numeral)
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; संख्या-शब्दः

• गोरुतम्: (the distance of) cow-sound/lowing range; as far as a cow’s call can be heard
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-रुत (गो + रुत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘गो’ + ‘रुत’ (रुत = शब्द/ध्वनि) इति समासः; परिमाण/सीमा-निर्देशे प्रयोगः

Entities Mentioned

• goruta
• dhanuḥ

More Details

FAQs

Why are distance units important in the Arthashastra’s administrative sections?

They standardize planning for roads, patrol ranges, courier stages, trade movement, and military logistics.