Chapter 2.4 turns the fort into a machine of rule: spatial zoning, supply discipline, and distributed force make urban design a source of resilience and reliable coercion. Urban planning is security policy—where people live and where goods are stored determines governability. Central granaries/halls anchor command, legitimacy, and crisis response. Gates and circulation are formalized to encode authority and control entry and exit. Defense is layered: moats, buffers, bridges, and planned external features create depth. Population management places high-risk groups on the periphery and regulates cemeteries. Household boundaries and agrarian edges are administratively fixed to prevent disorder. Wells and multi-year reserves, continuously rotated, prevent famine from becoming leverage. A “many-headed” coercive structure reduces bribery and enemy subornation.
Sutra 1
त्रयः प्राचीना राजमार्गास्त्रय उदीचीना इति वास्तुविभागः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०१ ॥
The town-plan division is: three royal highways running eastward and three running northward.
Sutra 2
स द्वादशद्वारो युक्तोदकभ्रमच्छन्नपथः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०२ ॥
It (the city/fort) should have twelve gates, be provided with a water-circuit (moat/waterworks), and have covered or hidden routes.
Sutra 3
चतुर्दण्डान्तरा रथ्याः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०३ ॥
The streets (rathyāḥ) should have an interval/width of four daṇḍas.
Sutra 4
राजमार्गद्रोणमुखस्थानीयराष्ट्रविवीतपथाः सम्यानीयव्यूहश्मशानग्रामपथाश्चाष्टदण्डाः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०४ ॥
Royal highways, routes to the droṇamukha (frontier/strategic outpost), routes to local administrative stations, routes through the countryside/territory, and also the paths for the samyānīya, military formations (vyūha), cremation-ground, and villages—these are to be eight daṇḍas (wide).
Sutra 5
चतुर्दण्डः सेतुवनपथः द्विदण्डो हस्तिक्षेत्रपथः पञ्चारत्नयो रथपथः चत्वारः पशुपथः द्वौ क्षुद्रपशुमनुष्यपथः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०५ ॥
The bridge/embankment-and-forest route is four daṇḍas (wide); the elephant-range route is two daṇḍas; the chariot route is five aratnis; the cattle route is four; and the route for small livestock and pedestrians is two.
Sutra 6
प्रवीरे वास्तुनि राजनिवेशश्चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाजीवे ॥ कZ_०२.४.०६ ॥
In the foremost/central site (pravīra vāstu), the royal residence should be established, together with the livelihood-organization of the four social orders (cāturvarṇya).
Sutra 7
वास्तुहृदयादुत्तरे नवभागे यथोक्तविधानमन्तःपुरं प्रान्मुखमुदन्मुखं वा कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.४.०७ ॥
In the northern ninth-part from the heart of the site, the inner palace (antaḥpura) should be built according to the stated rules, facing east or facing north.
Sutra 8
तस्य पूर्वोत्तरं भागमाचार्यपुरोहितेज्यातोयस्थानं मन्त्रिणश्चावसेयुः पूर्वदक्षिणं भाग्ं महानसं हस्तिशाला कोष्ठागारं च ॥ कZ_०२.४.०८ ॥
In its north-eastern sector should be the teacher’s quarters, the chaplain’s quarters, the place for worship and water, and the ministers’ residences. In its south-eastern sector should be the great kitchen, the elephant-stables, and the storehouses.
Sutra 9
ततः परं गन्धमाल्यरसपण्याः प्रसाधनकारवः क्षत्रियाश्च पूर्वां दिशमधिवसेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०९ ॥
Beyond that, the traders in perfumes, garlands, and liquors/juices, the artisans of personal adornment, and the kṣatriyas should inhabit the eastern quarter.
Sutra 10
दक्षिणपूर्वं भागं भाण्डागारमक्षपटलं कर्मनिषद्याश्च दक्षिणपश्चिमं भागं कुप्यगृहमायुधागारं च ॥ कZ_०२.४.१० ॥
In the south-eastern quarter, he should place the stores/warehouse, the office of accounts (Akṣapaṭala), and the work-office (Karmaniṣadyā). In the south-western quarter, he should place the treasury for valuables (Kupyagṛha) and the armory.
Sutra 11
ततः परं नगरधान्यव्यावहारिककार्मान्तिकबलाध्यक्षाः पक्वान्नसुरामांसपण्या रूपाजीवास्तालावचरा वैश्याश्च दक्षिणां दिशमधिवसेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.४.११ ॥
Next, in the southern direction should reside: the superintendents of the city, grain, trade/transactions, manufactures, and forces; sellers of cooked food, liquor, and meat; entertainers/prostitutes (those living by beauty); itinerant performers; and merchants (Vaiśyas).
Sutra 12
पश्चिमदक्षिणं भागं खरोष्ट्रगुप्तिस्थानं कर्मगृहं च पश्चिमोत्तरं भागं यानरथशालाः ॥ कZ_०२.४.१२ ॥
In the south‑western sector he should establish the station for guarding donkeys and camels, and a workhouse/work facility. In the north‑western sector he should place the sheds for vehicles and chariots.
Sutra 13
ततः परमूर्णासूत्रवेणुचर्मवर्मशस्त्रावरणकारवः शूद्राश्च पश्चिमां दिशमधिवसेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.४.१३ ॥
Thereafter, in the western direction should reside artisans working in wool, thread, bamboo, leather, armor, weapons, and protective coverings; and Śūdras.
Sutra 14
उत्तरपश्चिमं भागं पण्यभैषज्यगृहमुत्तरपूर्वं भागं कोशो गवाश्वं च ॥ कZ_०२.४.१४ ॥
In the north‑western sector he should place the house for merchandise and medicines. In the north‑eastern sector he should place the treasury (Kośa) and the cattle-and-horse establishment.
Sutra 15
ततः परं नगरराजदेवतालोहमणिकारवो ब्राह्मणाश्चोत्तरां दिशमधिवसेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.४.१५ ॥
Thereafter, in the northern direction should reside: those connected with the city’s royal deities, artisans working in metals and gems, and Brāhmaṇas.
Sutra 16
वास्तुच्छिद्रानुशालेषु श्रेणीप्रपणिनिकाया आवसेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.४.१६ ॥
In the lanes/rows aligned with the planned urban blocks and openings (vāstu‑chidrāni), the guilds and merchant-shop groups should reside.
Sutra 17
अपराजिताप्रतिहतजयन्तवैजयन्तकोष्ठान् शिववैश्रवणाश्विश्रीमदिरागृहाणि च पुरमध्ये कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.४.१७ ॥
In the middle of the city he should construct the storehouses named Aparājitā, Pratihata, Jayanta, and Vaijayanta, and also the shrines/houses of Śiva and Vaiśravaṇa, and the establishments of Aśvī, Śrī, and Madirā.
Sutra 18
यथोद्देशं वास्तुदेवताः स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.४.१८ ॥
He should install the deities of the city-layout (vāstu‑devatās) according to the prescribed allotment of places.
Sutra 19
ब्राह्माइन्द्रयाम्यसैनापत्यानि द्वाराणि ॥ कZ_०२.४.१९ ॥
The gates are to be (named/assigned as) Brāhma, Aindra, Yāmya, and Saināpatya.
Sutra 20
बहिः परिखाया धनुःशतापकृष्टाश्चैत्यपुण्यस्थानवनसेतुबन्धाः कार्याः यथादिशं च दिग्देवताः ॥ कZ_०२.४.२० ॥
Outside the moat, at a distance of one hundred bow-lengths, sacred shrines and meritorious places, reserved groves, and embankments/causeways (for water-control and crossings) should be constructed; and the directional deities should be installed according to their respective quarters.
Sutra 21
उत्तरः पूर्वो वा श्मशानभागो वर्णोत्तमानाम् दक्षिणेन श्मशानं वर्णावराणाम् ॥ कZ_०२.४.२१ ॥
The cremation-ground sector for the higher varṇas should lie to the north or east; to the south should be the cremation-ground for the lower varṇas.
Sutra 22
तस्यातिक्रमे पूर्वः साहसदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.४.२२ ॥
For transgressing that regulation, the first (lowest grade of) sāhasa fine/penalty shall be imposed.
Sutra 23
पाषण्डचण्डालानां श्मशानान्ते वासः ॥ कZ_०२.४.२३ ॥
Heretics/sectarians (pāṣaṇḍa) and caṇḍālas shall reside at the edge of the cremation ground.
Sutra 24
कर्मान्तक्षेत्रवशेन कुटुम्बिनां सीमानं स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.४.२४ ॥
He should establish the boundary lines of householders according to the disposition of work-sites and cultivated fields.
Sutra 25
तेषु पुष्पफलवाटान्धान्यपण्यनिचयांश्चानुज्ञाताः कुर्युः ॥ कZ_०२.४.२५ ॥
Within those (holdings/areas), those who are authorized may maintain flower- and fruit-gardens and storehouses/stockpiles of grain and merchandise.
Sutra 26
दशकुलीवाटं कूपस्थानम् ॥ कZ_०२.४.२६ ॥
A well-site should serve a unit of ten families/households.
Sutra 27
सर्वस्नेहधान्यक्षारलवणगन्धभैषज्यशुष्कशाकयवसवल्लूरतृणकाष्ठलोहचर्माङ्गारस्नायुविषविषाणवेणुवल्कलसारदारुप्रहरणावरणाश्मनिचयाननेकवर्षोपभोगसहान् कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.४.२७ ॥
He should have made and maintained stockpiles—fit for use over many years—of all oils and fats, grains, alkalis, salt, perfumes/aromatics, medicines, dried vegetables, barley, fodder, grass, wood, metals, leather, charcoal, sinews, poisons, horns, bamboo, bark-fibre, resin/essences, timber, weapons, protective gear, and stone reserves.
Sutra 28
नवेनानवं शोधयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.४.२८ ॥
He should regularly inspect and renew stock by replacing the old with the new.
Sutra 29
हस्त्यश्वरथपादातमनेकमुख्यमवस्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.४.२९ ॥
He should station a multi-pronged main force consisting of elephants, cavalry, chariots, and infantry.
Sutra 30
अनेकमुख्यं हि परस्परभयात्परोपजापं नोपैति ॥ कZ_०२.४.३० ॥
A body with many leaders does not fall into another’s instigation, because its members fear one another.
Sutra 31
एतेनान्तपालदुर्गसंस्कारा व्याख्याताः ॥ कZ_०२.४.३१ ॥
By this, the regulations concerning frontier-guards and the arrangements of forts have been explained.
Sutra 32
क्षिपेज्जनपदे चैतान् सर्वान्वा दापयेत्करान् ॥ कZ_०२.४.३२च्द् ॥
He should cast them out into the countryside—or else make them all pay taxes/levies.
A city that is habitable and siege-resilient: stable markets through regulated storage and renewal, reduced fire/riot/sabotage risk via zoning and supervised quarters, dependable water access (wells), and higher compliance through legitimacy markers (vāstudevatā, directional order).
For violating the prescribed cemetery/zoning arrangement (tasyātikrame), the text specifies the 'pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ'—the first/lowest grade of sāhasa fine (a coercive penalty for transgressive, disorder-causing acts). Other directives imply administrative correction and enforcement by city and gate authorities.