Sutra 5

Devanagari script

चतुर्दण्डः सेतुवनपथः द्विदण्डो हस्तिक्षेत्रपथः पञ्चारत्नयो रथपथः चत्वारः पशुपथः द्वौ क्षुद्रपशुमनुष्यपथः ॥ कZ_०२.४.०५ ॥

Transliteration

caturdaṇḍaḥ setuvanapathaḥ dvidaṇḍo hastikṣetrapathaḥ pañcāratnayo rathapathaḥ catvāraḥ paśupathaḥ dvau kṣudrapaśumanuṣyapathaḥ

Translation

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.

Word by Word

चतुर्दण्डः(a road) of four daṇḍas (in width/measure)

सेतु-वन-पथःthe road for embankments/causeways and forests (i.e., a causeway/forest road)

द्विदण्डः(a road) of two daṇḍas (in width/measure)

हस्ति-क्षेत्र-पथःthe road for elephant-grounds/elephant ranges

पञ्च-रत्नयोःof/for the five ‘ratnas’ (royal jewels/dignitaries)

रथ-पथःchariot-road

चत्वारःfour

पशु-पथःcattle-road / animal track

द्वौtwo

क्षुद्र-पशु-मनुष्य-पथःpath for small animals and people (footpath)

Entities Mentioned

setu (bridge/embankment)

vana (forest)

hasti (elephant)

ratha (chariot)

paśu (cattle)

FAQs

What policy logic underlies different widths for different routes?

It allocates scarce land and maintenance to match load and strategic value—wide where heavy traffic is expected, narrow where access must be limited (e.g., elephant reserves).

Why mention elephant-range roads explicitly?

Elephants are strategic military assets; regulating access and movement routes helps protect and manage elephant resources and training grounds.