Sutra 32

Devanagari script

वल्गनो नीचैर्गतो लङ्घनो घोरणो नारोष्ट्रश्चाउपवाह्याः ॥ कZ_०२.३०.३२ ॥

Transliteration

valgano nīcairgato laṅghano ghoraṇo nāroṣṭraścāupavāhyāḥ

Translation

The (principal) riding gaits/ways of moving a horse are: valgana, nīcairgata, laṅghana, ghoraṇa, and nāroṣṭra—used for mounted conveyance.

Word by Word

• वल्गनः: (a horse) that rears/leaps about; a vice of restiveness
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: वल्ग्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तरि-णिच्/अण्-प्रत्ययान्त (agentive)

• नीचैः: downwards; low; to a low level
• Type: Indeclinable (adverb)
• Root: नीच
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• गतः: gone; moving (in the manner specified)
• Type: Participle (verbal adjective)
• Root: गम्
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• लङ्घनः: (a horse) that jumps/leaps excessively; a jumper
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: लङ्घ्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तरि-अण्/अक्-प्रत्ययान्त (agentive)

• घोरणः: fierce; violent; dangerous-tempered
• Type: Adjective/Noun
• Root: घोर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; गुणवाचक

• नारोष्ट्रः: camel-nosed; having a camel-like snout/nose
• Type: Noun (bahuvrihi adjective used as noun)
• Root: नासिका + उष्ट्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; नासिकायाम् उष्ट्रवत् (उन्नत/विकृत) इति बहुव्रीहिः

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• औपवाह्याः: fit for riding/drawing (as mounts/vehicles)
• Type: Adjective (to be used for riding/drawing)
• Root: उपवाह्य
• Form: बहुवचन; प्रथमा (पुं/स्त्री—प्रयोगे ‘अश्वाः’ इत्यादि-सम्बन्धः); उप-√वह् + ण्यत्/यत् (उपवाह्य = upavāhya) ; ‘औ’ = वृddhi in plural form

Entities Mentioned

• horses
• mounted troops
• state stables

More Details

FAQs

Why does the Arthashastra list named gaits instead of giving general advice?

Because the state needed standardized technical criteria to train, test, and assign horses for military and transport roles, enabling consistent supervision and accountability.