Sutra 20

Devanagari script

शाल्यादि ज्येष्ठं षण्डो मध्यमः इक्षुः प्रत्यवरः ॥ कZ_०२.२४.२० ॥

Transliteration

śālyādi jyeṣṭhaṃ ṣaṇḍo madhyamaḥ ikṣuḥ pratyavaraḥ

Translation

Rice and the like are foremost; sugarcane-plantations (ṣaṇḍa) are of middle rank; sugarcane (ikṣu) is comparatively inferior (for state preference/ordering).

Word by Word

• शाल्यादि: the group beginning with śāli (fine rice and similar grains)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: शालि + आदि
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘शालि-आदि’ = शालिः आदिः यस्य तत् (शाल्यादि-समूहः)

• ज्येष्ठम्: the highest / first (in rank)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘श्रेष्ठतमम्/प्रथमम्’

• षण्डः: ṣaṇḍa (a specified produce/crop category)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• मध्यमः: middle (in rank/grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘मध्य-कोटिः’

• इक्षुः: sugarcane
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्षु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• प्रत्यवरः: the lowest / inferior (in rank/grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यवर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘अवर/न्यून’ (क्रमे)

Entities Mentioned

• state planners
• cane cultivators

More Details

FAQs

Why would rice be ranked above sugarcane in a state plan?

Rice is a staple with broad food-security value and typically steadier administrative returns; cane can be more input-intensive and risk-prone.