Kantakashodhana Adhyaya 4 Sutra 9 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

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Sutra 9

Devanagari script

ग्रामकूटमध्यक्षं वा सत्त्री ब्रूयात् असौ जाल्मः प्रभूतद्रव्यः तस्यायमनर्थः तेनैनमाहारयस्व इति ॥ कZ_०४.४.०९ ॥

Transliteration

grāmakūṭam adhyakṣaṃ vā sattrī brūyāt—‘asau jālmaḥ prabhūtadravyaḥ; tasyāyam anarthaḥ; tenainam āhāraya’ iti ॥

Translation

Or, to a grāmakūṭa (village accountant/record-keeper) or an adhyakṣa (local superintendent), the sattrin should say: “That rogue has much wealth; here is a pretext/charge against him—use it to bring him in (i.e., seize/produce him).”

Word by Word

ग्रामकूटमध्यक्षम्the superintendent/overseer of the village accountant (gramakūṭa)

वाor

सत्त्रीan undercover agent/spy (one who gains access)

ब्रूयात्should say

असौthat man (he there)

जाल्मःa rogue/villain

प्रभूतद्रव्यःone possessing abundant wealth

तस्यof him / his

अयम्this

अनर्थःharm/misfortune; a damaging matter

तेनtherefore / by that (reason)

एनम्him

आहारयस्वbring him (here)/have him brought

इतिthus

Entities Mentioned

grāmakūṭa

adhyakṣa

sattrin

FAQs

What abuse is this test designed to detect?

Whether local officials will manufacture charges or use coercive process to target wealthy persons—typically to extract payments, seize property, or settle private scores.