Arthashastra — Yogavritta, Sutra 15

Devanagari script

कुशीलवास्त्वर्धतृतीयशताः द्विगुणवेतनाश्चैषां तूर्यकराः ॥ कZ_०५.३.१५ ॥

Transliteration

kuśīlavās tv ardhatṛtīyaśatāḥ dviguṇavetanāś caiṣāṃ tūryakarāḥ

Translation

Entertainers/performers (kuśīlavas) are on the 250-(paṇa) grade; among them, the instrumentalists (tūryakaras) receive double pay.

Word by Word

• कुशीलवाः: actors/performers (entertainers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशीलव
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः

• तुर्धतृतीयशताः: (those whose pay is) two-and-a-half hundred (i.e., 250)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुर्धतृतीयशत
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; संख्यावाचक-समासः (अर्ध-तृतीय-शत)

• द्विगुणवेतनाः: having double wages
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विगुणवेतन
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; विशेषणम् (कुशीलवानाम्)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एषाम्: of these
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्, सर्वनाम; सम्बन्धे (of these)

• तूर्यकराः: instrumental musicians (players of tūrya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूर्यकर
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; तूर्य-कर (instrument-player)

Entities Mentioned

• kuśīlava
• tūryakara

More Details

FAQs

Why would instrumentalists be paid double within the performer class?

Specialized skill and ceremonial indispensability (processions, rituals, public occasions) justify a premium, reflecting a merit-based micro-differentiation.

What governance purpose do performers serve in Kauṭilya’s framework?

They support royal spectacle, legitimacy, and morale—tools of political communication—while being kept within controlled budget bands.