Sutra 1

Devanagari script

त्रयः प्राचीना राजमार्गास्त्रय उदीचीना इति वास्तुविभागः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०१ ॥

Transliteration

trayaḥ prācīnā rājamārgās traya udīcīnā iti vāstuvibhāgaḥ

Translation

The town-plan division is: three royal highways running eastward and three running northward.

Word by Word

• त्रयः: three
• Type: Numeral (Adjective)
• Root: त्रि
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम्

• प्राचीनाः: eastern (pertaining to the east)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राचीन
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम्

• राजमार्गाः: royal roads; main thoroughfares
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजमार्ग
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्

• त्रयः: three
• Type: Numeral (Adjective)
• Root: त्रि
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम्

• उदीचीनाः: northern (pertaining to the north)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदीचीन
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम्

• इति: thus; as follows
• Type: Particle/Quotative
• Root: इति
• Form: निपातः; उक्तिसमाप्त्यर्थः

• वास्तुविभागः: division/classification of the site/layout
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तुविभाग
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; शीर्षक/विषयनिर्देशः

Entities Mentioned

• rājamārga (royal highway)

More Details

FAQs

What is the governance purpose of prescribing a fixed number of main roads?

A fixed arterial grid simplifies policing, taxation movement, military mobilization, and maintenance budgeting by making circulation predictable and inspectable.

Why emphasize ‘royal’ roads?

They are state-priority corridors for administration, trade supervision, and rapid troop/police movement—hence centrally planned and regulated.