Sutra 12

Devanagari script

रथिकानीकस्थचिकित्सकाश्वदमकवर्धकयो योनिपोषकाश्च द्विसाहस्राः ॥ कZ_०५.३.१२ ॥

Transliteration

rathikānīkasthacikitsakāśvadamakavardhakayo yonipoṣakāś ca dvisāhasrāḥ

Translation

For chariot-warriors, physicians attached to military units, horse-trainers and horse-breed enhancers, and breeders/caretakers (of stock), the stipend is two thousand.

Word by Word

• रथिक: charioteers / chariot-corps men
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (गणना-वाचक पद)

• अनीकस्थ: men stationed in a troop/formation (rank-and-file in the corps)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक + स्थ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; अनीके (सेनाव्यूहे/दल-समूहे) स्थिताः

• चिकित्सक: physicians / medical attendants
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिकित्सा
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• अश्वदमक: horse-trainers / breakers
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व + दमक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; अश्वान् दमयन्ति इति

• वर्धक: rearers / attendants who promote growth (keepers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृध्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक (ण्वुल्)

• योनि-पोषक: breeding-support attendants / those who maintain the breeding stock
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि + पोषक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; योनिं (प्रजनन-स्थान/गर्भ/प्रजनन-सम्बन्ध) पोषयन्ति इति

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

• द्विसाहस्राः: two thousand (in number)
• Type: Numeral (Adjective used substantively)
• Root: द्वि + सहस्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘द्विसहस्र’ (=2000) संख्या-वाचक, पूर्वपदानुसार समास

Entities Mentioned

• rathika
• anīkastha-cikitsaka
• aśvadamaka
• vardhaka
• yonipoṣaka

More Details

FAQs

What does the inclusion of physicians and breeders reveal about Kauṭilya’s view of the army?

The army is a system with sustaining institutions—healthcare, training, and reproduction of animal capital—requiring regularized administrative support.