Sutra 35

Devanagari script

सुवर्णमाषकाश्चत्वारश्चतुरङ्गुलायामाः कुम्भच्छिद्रमाढकमम्भसो वा नालिका ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३५ ॥

Transliteration

suvarṇamāṣakāś catvāraś caturaṅgulāyāmāḥ kumbhacchidram āḍhakam ambhaso vā nālikā

Translation

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.

Word by Word

• सुवर्णमाषकाः: gold māṣaka units (gold māṣakas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माषक (with उपसर्ग/विशेषण सुवर्ण-)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; ‘सुवर्ण-’ विशेषणपूर्वकः समासः

• चत्वारः: four
• Type: Numeral (Adjective)
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; ‘सुवर्णमाषकाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• चतुरङ्गुलायामाः: having a length of four aṅgulas (four-finger breadths)
• Type: Noun (Adjective-like measure term)
• Root: आयाम (with numeral compound चतुर्+अङ्गुल)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; ‘चतुर्-अङ्गुल-आयाम’ = चतुर्भिरङ्गुलैः परिमित-दीर्घताः; ‘(नालिकाः)’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कुम्भच्छिद्रम्: the hole/orifice of a pot (jar)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्र (with कुम्भ-)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः; ‘कुम्भस्य छिद्रम्’

• आढकम्: an āḍhaka measure (a standard volume)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आढक
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः; परिमाण-शब्दः

• अम्भसः: of water
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः; ‘अम्भसः’ = ‘जलस्य’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थकः

• नालिका: a nālikā (measuring tube/device)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नालिका
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्गः; परिभाषिकः उपकरण-शब्दः

Entities Mentioned

• nālikā
• kumbha (pot)
• chidra (orifice)
• suvarṇa-māṣaka
• aṅgula
• āḍhaka
• water (ambhas)

More Details

FAQs

What governance principle is reflected in specifying the water-clock’s dimensions?

Control through standardization: precise instrument specifications reduce local variation, limit manipulation, and make time-based administration auditable.

How does this help prevent corruption or disputes?

If time is measured by calibrated devices (orifice size/length or fixed water volume), officials cannot easily stretch or shrink ‘official time’ to favor parties or evade duties.