Vyasanadhikarana Adhyaya 4 Sutra 37 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 37

Devanagari script

अभिजातोपरुद्धा भूमिः पशुव्रजोपरुद्धा वेति अभिजातोपरुद्धा भूमिः महाफलाप्यायुधीयोपकारिणी न क्षमा मोक्षयितुं व्यसनाबाधभयात्पशुव्रजोपरुद्धा तु कृषियोग्या क्षमा मोक्षयितुम् ॥ कZ_०८.४.३७ ॥

Transliteration

abhijātoparuddhā bhūmiḥ paśuvrajoparuddhā veti abhijātoparuddhā bhūmiḥ mahāphalāpyāyudhīyopakāriṇī na kṣamā mokṣayituṃ vyasanābādhabhayāt paśuvrajoparuddhā tu kṛṣiyogyā kṣamā mokṣayitum

Translation

Land may be blocked either by nobles (elite holders) or by cattle herds. Land blocked by nobles—though highly productive and useful for military support—cannot easily be released, for fear of calamity and harassment; but land blocked by cattle herds is fit for cultivation and can be released.

Word by Word

अभिजातwell-born, noble

उपरुद्धाblocked, obstructed, under blockade

भूमिःland, territory

पशुcattle, livestock

व्रजherd, cattle-pen/settlement

उपरुद्धाblocked, obstructed

वाor

इतिthus (as stated)

अभिजातnoble

उपरुद्धाblockaded

भूमिःland

महाफलाhigh-yielding, very productive

अपिeven, although

आयुधीयmilitary, relating to weapons/armed forces

उपकारिणीuseful, serviceable (for military purposes)

नnot

क्षमाfit/possible (to be released)

मोक्षयितुम्to release, to let go

व्यसनcalamity, misfortune

आबाधaffliction, oppression

भयात्from fear, due to fear

पशुव्रजcattle-herd area/settlement

उपरुद्धाblockaded

तुbut, however

कृषिagriculture, cultivation

योग्याsuitable, fit

क्षमाfit/possible

मोक्षयितुम्to release

Entities Mentioned

abhijāta (nobles)

paśuvraja (cattle herds/settlements)

bhūmi (land)

āyudhīya (military provisioning)

FAQs

Why is noble-held land harder to ‘release’ than herd-held land?

Because elites can retaliate politically or through harassment, creating governance instability; herds are administratively easier to relocate/convert.