This chapter turns farming into a state-run, risk-managed production line—inputs, labor, timing, and penalties—so grain and revenue become predictable instruments of power. Agriculture is treated as engineered throughput on crown lands, not a passive seasonal gamble. Intensive ploughing and disciplined operations aim to maximize yield per unit land. Controlled labor (dāsa/karmakara) and obligated contributors are organized as a production workforce. A logistics backbone (oxen, implements, craftsmen) is essential state infrastructure. Accountability is quantified: yield loss/shortfall triggers compensatory penalties to deter leakage. Rainfall norms by region/season guide planning; celestial/observational heuristics refine sowing timing. Crop choice is matched to high/low water availability to reduce variance and failure risk. Outcome is yogakṣema: stable grain for army and markets, stronger janapada, and expanded kośa.
Sutra 1
কZ_০২.২৪.০১ ॥
Verse text not provided (only a reference marker). Unable to translate without the Sanskrit line.
Sutra 2
बहुहलपरिकृष्टायां स्वभूमौ दासकर्मकरदण्डप्रतिकर्तृभिर्वापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.०२ ॥
On his own land, well ploughed with many ploughs, he shall have sowing done by slaves, hired laborers, and those working off penalties (penal labor).
Sutra 3
कर्षणयन्त्रोपकरणबलीवर्दैश्चैषामसङ्गं कारयेत्कारुभिश्च कर्मारकुट्टाकमेदकरज्जुवर्तकसर्पग्राहादिभिश्च ॥ कZ_०२.२४.०३ ॥
He shall ensure that their work proceeds without interruption by providing ploughing implements and draught-oxen, and by arranging supporting artisans—such as smiths/implement-makers, stone-cutters, leather-workers, rope-makers, snake-catchers, and others.
Sutra 4
तेषां कर्मफलविनिपाते तत्फलहानं दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.०४ ॥
If, in the execution of their assigned work, the resulting yield/output is spoiled or misapplied, the penalty shall be the loss (forfeiture) of that very result/benefit.
Sutra 5
षोडशद्रोणं जाङ्गलानां वर्षप्रमाणमध्यर्धमानूपानां देशवापानामर्धत्रयोदशाश्मकानाम् त्रयोविंशतिरवन्तीनाममितमपरान्तानां हैमन्यानां च कुल्यावापानां च कालतः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.०५ ॥
The standard measure of rainfall (varṣa-pramāṇa) is: sixteen droṇas in arid (jāṅgala) regions; eight and a half in marshy (ānūpa) regions; twelve and a half for Deśa and Vāpa areas; thirteen and a half for Aśmaka; twenty-three for Avanti; and for Aparānta it is not fixed (variable). For winter-crops and for canal/ditch-irrigated sowings (kulyā-vāpa), it is to be assessed according to the season/time.
Sutra 6
वर्षत्रिभागः पूर्वपश्चिममासयोः द्वौ त्रिभागौ मध्यमयोः सुषमारूपम् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.०६ ॥
A well-balanced (suṣama) rainfall pattern is: one-third of the rains in the early and late months, and two-thirds in the middle months.
Sutra 7
तस्योपलधिर्बृहस्पतेः स्थानगमनगर्भाधानेभ्यः शुक्रोदयास्तमयचारेभ्यः सूर्यस्य प्रकृतिवैकृताच्च ॥ कZ_०२.२४.०७ ॥
Its (i.e., the season’s/rain’s) assessment is to be made from: Jupiter’s position, movement, and conjunction; Venus’s rising, setting, and course; and from the sun’s normal and abnormal appearances.
Sutra 8
सूर्याद्बीजसिद्धिः बृहस्पतेः सस्यानां स्तम्बकारिता शुक्राद्वृष्टिः । इति ॥ कZ_०२.२४.०८ ॥
From the sun comes the successful setting of seed; from Jupiter, the formation of stalks in crops; from Venus, rainfall—thus (runs the doctrine).
Sutra 9
षष्टिरातपमेघानामेषा वृष्टिः समा हिता ॥ कZ_०२.२४.०९च्द् ॥
This rainfall is considered even and beneficial: sixty (units) with alternation of sun and cloud (ātapa-megha).
Sutra 10
त्रीन् करीषांश्च जनयंस्तत्र सस्यागमो ध्रुवः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१०च्द् ॥
Where it produces three (measures/layers) of manure (karīṣa), there the coming of crops (a harvest) is assured.
Sutra 11
ततः प्रभूतोदकमल्पोदकं वा सस्यं वापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.११ ॥
Accordingly, one should sow crops suited either to abundant water or to scant water.
Sutra 12
शालिव्रीहिकोद्रवतिलप्रियङ्गूदारकवरकाः पूर्ववापाः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१२ ॥
Rice, vṛīhi (a rice variety), kodrava (a millet), sesame, priyaṅgu (panic-seed), dāraka, and varaka are to be sown first (as the early sowing set).
Sutra 13
मुद्गमाषशैम्ब्या मध्यवापाः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१३ ॥
Mudga (green gram), māṣa (black gram), and śaimbya (a legume/pulse) are the middle sowings.
Sutra 14
कुसुम्भमसूरकुलत्थयवगोधूमकलायातसीसर्षपाः पश्चाद्वापाः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१४ ॥
Safflower, lentil, horse-gram, barley, wheat, pea, linseed, and mustard are the later sowings.
Sutra 15
यथर्तुवशेन वा बीजवापाः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१५ ॥
Or, sowings of seed should be arranged according to the actual course of the seasons.
Sutra 16
वापातिरिक्तमर्धसीतिकाः कुर्युः स्ववीर्योपजीविनो वा चतुस्थपञ्चभागिकाः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१६ ॥
Beyond the standard sown area/obligation, they may cultivate additional plots on a half-share basis; or those who live by their own effort may be assessed at one-fourth or one-fifth shares.
Sutra 17
यथेष्टमनवसितभागं दद्युः अन्यत्र कृच्छ्रेभ्यः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१७ ॥
They may grant, at discretion, an undetermined/variable share—except in cases of hardship (where special relief rules apply).
Sutra 18
स्वसेतुभ्यो हस्तप्रावर्तिममुदकभागं पञ्चमं दद्युः स्कन्धप्रावर्तिमं चतुर्थं स्रोतोयन्त्रप्रावर्तिमं च तृतीयं चतुर्थं नदीसरस्तटाककूपोद्धाटम् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१८ ॥
For fields irrigated by their own bunds/works: if water is lifted by hand, they shall pay a water-share of one-fifth; if lifted by shoulder-carried means, one-fourth; if lifted by a stream-device/mechanical contrivance, one-third or one-fourth; and likewise for water drawn from rivers, lakes, tanks, or wells.
Sutra 19
कर्मोदकप्रमाणेन कैदारं हैमनं ग्रैष्मिकं वा सस्यं स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.१९ ॥
He should establish (assign/plan) the crop—wet-field (kaidāra), winter (haimana), or summer (graiṣmika)—in proportion to the available labor and water.
Sutra 20
शाल्यादि ज्येष्ठं षण्डो मध्यमः इक्षुः प्रत्यवरः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२० ॥
Rice and the like are foremost; sugarcane-plantations (ṣaṇḍa) are of middle rank; sugarcane (ikṣu) is comparatively inferior (for state preference/ordering).
Sutra 21
इक्षवो हि बह्वाबाधा व्ययग्राहिणश्च ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२१ ॥
For sugarcane involves many impediments and is expenditure-absorbing (cost-intensive).
Sutra 22
फेनाघातो वल्लीफलानाम् परीवाहान्ताः पिप्पलीमृद्वीकेक्षूणां कूपपर्यन्ताः शाकमूलानाम् हरणीपर्यन्ता हरितकानाम् पाल्यो लवानां गन्धभैषज्योशीरह्रीबेरपिण्डालुकादीनाम् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२२ ॥
For vine-fruits, the boundary is up to the foam-mark (waterline indicator); for long-pepper, grapes, and sugarcane, up to the end of the irrigation channel; for leafy vegetables and roots, up to the end of the water-drawing device; for harītakī (myrobalan), up to the maintained embankment; and similarly for salt-plots and for aromatic and medicinal plants such as uśīra, hrībera, piṇḍāluka and others—each with its prescribed cultivation boundary/limit.
Sutra 23
यथास्वं भूमिषु च स्थाल्याश्चानूप्याश्चौषधीः स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२३ ॥
He should establish medicinal plants according to the soils proper to each—both in dry (upland) tracts and in marshy/wet tracts, as suited to each species.
Sutra 24
तुषारपायनमुष्णशोषणं चासप्तरात्रादिति धान्यबीजानाम् त्रिरात्रं वा पञ्चरात्रं वा कोशीधान्यानां मधुघृतसूकरवसाभिः शकृद्युक्ताभिः काण्डबीजानां छेदलेपो मधुघृतेन कन्दानामस्थिबीजानां शकृदालेपः शाखिनां गर्तदाहो गोऽस्थिशकृद्भिः काले दौह्र्दं च ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२४ ॥
For grain-seeds, soaking in cold (dew/frost) water and drying in warmth should be done within seven nights; for certain grains, for three or five nights. For stem-cuttings, apply a cut-and-coating using honey, ghee, and pig-fat mixed with dung; for tubers, coat with honey and ghee; for hard/stone seeds, coat with dung. For trees, treat planting pits by burning (in the pit) with cow-bones and dung. And these operations should be timed to the proper season.
Sutra 25
प्ररूढांश्चाशुष्ककटुमत्स्यांश्च स्नुहिक्षीरेण पाययेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२५ ॥
He should drench (treat) sprouting plants, and also those affected by drying and by the condition called “bitter-fish” (a named blight/pest), with the milky latex of snuhī.
Sutra 26
न सर्पास्तत्र तिष्ठन्ति धूमो यत्रैष तिष्ठति ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२६च्द् ॥
Snakes do not remain where this smoke persists.
Sutra 27
सर्वजीजानां तु प्रथमवापे सुवर्णोदकसम्प्लुतां पूर्वमुष्टिं वापयेदमुं च मन्त्रं ब्रूयात्प्रजापतये काश्यपाय देवाय च नमः सदा । सीता मे ऋध्यतां देवी बीजेषु च धनेषु च ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२७ ॥
At the first sowing of all seeds, he should sow first a handful that has been sprinkled with “gold-water,” and he should recite this mantra: “Homage always to Prajāpati, to Kāśyapa, and to the god. May the goddess Sītā prosper for me—in seeds and in wealth.”
Sutra 28
षण्डवाटगोपालकदासकर्मकरेभ्यो यथापुरुषपरिवापं भक्तं कुर्यात्सपादपणिकं च मासं दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२८ ॥
For the workers—orchard-guards/plantation staff, herdsmen, slaves, and hired laborers—he should arrange rations according to headcount, and he should also pay a monthly wage of one and a quarter paṇa (1¼ paṇa).
Sutra 29
कर्मानुरूपं कारुभ्यो भक्तवेतनम् ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२९ ॥
For artisans, rations and wages should be proportionate to the work performed.
Sutra 30
प्रशीर्णं च पुष्पफलं देवकार्यार्थं व्रीहियवमाग्रयणार्थं श्रोत्रियास्तपस्विनश्चाहरेयुः राशिमूलमुञ्छवृत्तयः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.३० ॥
Fallen flowers and fruits may be gathered for divine/temple purposes; and brāhmaṇa scholars (śrotriya) and ascetics may gather rice and barley for the āgrayaṇa rite—taking only what is gleaned from the base of heaps and from roots, living by gleaning (uñcha).
Sutra 31
न क्षेत्रे स्थापयेत्किंचित्पलालमपि पण्डितः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.३१च्द् ॥
A prudent administrator should not leave anything in the field—not even straw.
Sutra 32
न संहतानि कुर्वीत न तुच्छानि शिरांसि च ॥ कZ_०२.२४.३२च्द् ॥
He should not make them too compact; and the heaps (heads/piles) should not be too small either.
Sutra 33
अनग्निकाः सोदकाश्च खले स्युः परिकर्मिणः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.३३च्द् ॥
Workers at the threshing-floor should be without fire and provided with water (i.e., fire is prohibited; water is kept ready).
Assured sowing and harvest stability on crown lands: food security, price stability, dependable state granaries, and steady revenue—supporting public order and the army’s provisioning.
For loss/diversion/ruin of the work-result (karmaphala-vinipāta), the penalty is equivalent to the loss of that produce (tatphala-hānaṃ daṇḍaḥ)—a compensatory, yield-indexed danda.