Sutra 49

Devanagari script

चरकपांसुधावकाः सारत्रिभागं द्वौ राजा रत्नं च ॥ कZ_०४.१.४९ ॥

Transliteration

carakapāṃsudhāvakāḥ sāratribhāgaṃ dvau rājā ratnaṃ ca

Translation

For itinerant finders and washers of dust/earth (who discover valuables), two shares out of three of the extracted “essence” may be allotted; the king takes the remaining share, and the precious object (ratna) is treated as the king’s (regalian property).

Word by Word

• चरक: spies/roving agents
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (कर्तरि/उद्देश्यम्)

• पांसुधावकाः: ‘dust-runners’/menial operatives
• Type: Noun
• Root: धाव्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन

• सार: the proceeds / net gain
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (कर्म)

• त्रि-भागम्: as three parts / in three shares
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (acc. of measure)

• द्वौ: two
• Type: Numeral
• Root: द्वि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-द्विवचन

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन

• रत्नम्: a jewel / valuable
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (सन्दर्भे कर्म/उद्देश्यम्)

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

Entities Mentioned

• King/State
• caraka (itinerant finder)
• pāṃsudhāvaka (dust-washer/prospector)
• ratna (jewel/regalian)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative principle is expressed here?

The state asserts regalian rights over ‘ratna’ while using revenue-sharing to incentivize discovery and reporting rather than concealment.

Why give discoverers a large share?

To align private incentives with state revenue: high rewards reduce black-market concealment and improve reporting compliance.