Vyasanadhikarana Adhyaya 4 Sutra 23 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 23

Devanagari script

देशविहारः कर्मश्रममवधार्थमल्पं भक्षयति भक्षयित्वा च भूयः कर्मसु योगं गच्छति राजविहारस्तु स्वयं वल्लभैश्च स्वयं ग्राहप्रणयपण्यागारकार्योपग्रहैः पीडयतीति ॥ कZ_०८.४.२३ ॥

Transliteration

deśavihāraḥ karmaśramam avadhārtham alpaṃ bhakṣayati; bhakṣayitvā ca bhūyaḥ karmasu yogaṃ gacchati; rājavihāras tu svayaṃ vallabhaiś ca svayaṃ grāha-praṇaya-paṇyāgāra-kāryopagrahaiḥ pīḍayatīti

Translation

Country-roaming consumes only a little—meant to relieve fatigue from work—and after consuming it, people return again to their tasks. But royal roaming oppresses: both by the ruler himself and by his favorites, through seizures, ‘favored demands,’ pressure on storehouses/markets, and forced requisitions for works and services.

Word by Word

देशविहारःa tour in the countryside (ordinary tour)

कर्मश्रमम्fatigue from work

अवधार्थम्for the purpose of limiting/curbing (it)

अल्पम्a little (quantity)

भक्षयतिeats/consumes

भक्षयित्वाhaving eaten

चand

भूयःagain; further

कर्मसुin (his) duties/works

योगम्application/engagement (in work)

गच्छतिgoes/returns (to)

राजविहारःthe king’s pleasure-tour/royal outing

तुbut

स्वयम्personally; himself

वल्लभैःby (his) favourites/retainers

चand

स्वयम्personally; himself

ग्राहप्रणयपण्यागारकार्योपग्रहैःby exactions, ‘friendly’ levies, state-store (warehouse) operations, and requisitions for official work

पीडयतिharasses/oppresses

इतिthus

Entities Mentioned

rājavihāra (royal roaming)

vallabha (favorites)

paṇyāgāra (storehouses/warehouses)

FAQs

What is the policy distinction between deśavihāra and rājavihāra?

Deśavihāra is framed as limited consumption for recuperation that preserves productivity; rājavihāra is framed as extractive behavior that enables seizures and rent-seeking by the ruler and his entourage.