Sutra 16

Devanagari script

चिकित्सकानीकस्थारोहकाधोरणहस्तिपकौपचारिकविधापाचकयावसिकपादपाशिककुटीर्रक्षकाउपशयैकादिरौपस्थायिकवर्गः ॥ कZ_०२.३२.१६ ॥

Transliteration

cikitsakānīkasthārohakādhoraṇahastipakaupacārikavidhāpācakayāvasikapādapāśikakuṭīrrakṣakāupaśayaikādir aupasthāyika-vargaḥ

Translation

The stable-service staff includes: veterinarians, unit-attached attendants, riders/mounters, drivers/lead-men, elephant-keepers (mahouts), caretakers, cooks/food-servers, fodder-men, foot-ropers (for securing), hut/shed-guards, those assigned to rest-shelters, and others of that class.

Word by Word

• चिकित्सक: physicians, medical officers
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकित्सक (√कित्स्/चिकित्स्- ‘to treat’, agent noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (समाहार-गण/वर्ग-निर्देश)

• अनीकस्थ: those stationed with a troop-division (unit staff)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक + स्थ (√स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘अनीके स्थाः’)

• आरोहक: riders, mounted men
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + √रुह् (ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• अधोरण: a class of attendants called adhōraṇa (technical troop-service personnel)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधोरण (देशज/प्रयोगविशेष; ‘अधो’ + ‘रण/रण’?)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; (पाठ/रूप कठिन)

• हस्तिपक: elephant-keepers (mahouts)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति + पक (√पच्? / ‘पक’ = पालक/परिचारक-प्रयोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘हस्तिनः पकाः/पालकाः’)

• औपचारिक: attendants, orderlies (providers of care/services)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार + ठक् (औपचारिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• विधापाचक: specialist cooks (preparing prescribed/regulated dishes)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधा + पाचक (√पच्, ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (पाठानुसार ‘विधा-पाचक’ = विशेष-रसोईया)

• यावसिक: fodder-men, forage suppliers
• Type: Noun
• Root: यावस + ठक् (यावसिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• पादपाशिक: foot-fetter/foot-rope handlers (restraint personnel)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + पाश + ठक् (पादपाशिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘पादस्य पाशः’—पादबन्धन-सम्बन्धी)

• कुटीररक्षक: hut-guards, shelter guards
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटीर + रक्षक (√रक्ष्, ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘कुटीरायाः रक्षकाः’)

• उपशयैकादि: the group beginning with ‘upashaya’ and ‘eka’ etc. (other auxiliary staff categories)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपशय + एक + आदि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; गण-निर्देश (उपशय, एक, आदि—सूची-समाहार)

• औपस्थायिक: attendants responsible for attendance/service (those who wait upon)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्था/उपस्थाय + ठक् (औपस्थायिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• वर्गः: a class/category (group)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

Entities Mentioned

• veterinarians
• mahouts/elephant-keepers
• guards
• cooks
• fodder staff
• unit staff

More Details

FAQs

What does this staff list reveal about Kauṭilya’s administrative style?

He operationalizes governance via specialized roles and clear service categories, enabling accountability and routine provisioning.