Vinayaadhikaarika Adhyaya 20 Sutra 16 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 16

Devanagari script

लाजान्मधुनेति विषेण पर्यस्य देवी काशिराजम् विषदिग्धेन नूप्रेण वैरन्त्यं मेखलामणिना सौवीरं जालूथमादर्शेन वेण्यां गूढं शस्त्रं कृत्वा देवी विदूरथं जघान ॥ कZ_०१.२०.१६ ॥

Transliteration

lājān madhunā iti viṣeṇa paryasya devī kāśirājam viṣadigdhena nūpreṇa vairantyaṃ mekhalāmaṇinā sauvīraṃ jālūtham ādarśena veṇyāṃ gūḍhaṃ śastraṃ kṛtvā devī vidūrathaṃ jaghāna

Translation

Using poison in (offerings such as) parched grain and honey, a queen killed the king of Kāśī; with an anklet smeared with poison (she killed) Vairantya; with a jeweled girdle (she killed) Sauvīra; with a mirror (she killed) Jālūtha; and by hiding a weapon in her hair-braid, a queen killed Vidūratha.

Word by Word

लाजात्from parched grain (laja)

मधुनाwith honey

इतिthus (saying/quoting)

विषेणwith poison

पर्यस्यhaving sprinkled/strewn (it) around

देवीthe queen

काशिराजम्the king of Kāśī

विषदिग्धेनwith (something) smeared with poison

नूपुरेणwith an anklet

वैरन्त्यम्Vairantya (a kind of ornament/metal/object; proper name)

मेखलाa girdle/belt

मणिनाwith a jewel/gem

सौवीरम्Sauvēra (a kind of ornament/metal/object; proper name)

जालूथम्Jālūtha (a kind of ornament/metal/object; proper name)

आदर्शेनwith a mirror

वेण्याम्in the braid (of hair)

गूढम्hidden, concealed

शस्त्रम्a weapon

कृत्वाhaving made/placed

देवीthe queen

विदूरथम्Vidūratha (proper name)

जघानkilled

Entities Mentioned

devī (queen)

Kāśīrāja (king of Kāśī)

Vairantya

Sauvīra

Jālūtha

Vidūratha

FAQs

What is the governance lesson from listing objects like anklets, girdles, mirrors, and hair-braids?

Every intimate object is a potential delivery mechanism for poison or weapons; security must treat personal effects as controllable vectors, not harmless accessories.

How does this verse expand the threat model beyond ‘armed intruders’?

It highlights covert methods (poisoning, hidden blades) and trusted insiders, requiring inspection regimes and controlled supply chains for palace items.