Arthashastra — Yogavritta, Sutra 24

Devanagari script

चारसंचारिणोऽर्धतृतीयशताः प्रयासवृद्धवेतना वा ॥ कZ_०५.३.२४ ॥

Transliteration

cāra-saṃcāriṇo 'rdha-tṛtīya-śatāḥ prayāsa-vṛddha-vetanā vā.

Translation

Roving intelligence operatives (cāra-saṃcārin) are paid 250 (units), or more if the assignment involves exceptional exertion (a hardship increment).

Word by Word

• चार-संचारिणः: those who move about as/among spies; spy-runners/agents engaged in spy-circulation
• Type: Noun (agentive)
• Root: संचर्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; -इन् (संचारिन्) कर्तरि; ‘चार’ + ‘संचारिन्’ समास

• अर्ध-तृतीय-शताः: (in number) two hundred and fifty (lit. two and a half hundreds)
• Type: Noun (numeral expression)
• Root: शत
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘शत’ (100) with fractional/ordinal components: अर्ध (1/2) + तृतीय (3rd) qualifying ‘शत’

• प्रयास-वृद्ध-वेतनाः: having wages increased for (their) exertion; paid extra for the effort
• Type: Noun (bahuvrihi adjective)
• Root: वेतन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; ‘प्रयास’ + ‘वृद्ध’ + ‘वेतन’ → ‘whose wages are increased due to exertion’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (alternative ‘or’)

Entities Mentioned

• cāra-saṃcārin

More Details

FAQs

What modern HR concept is reflected in ‘prayāsa-vṛddha-vetana’?

A hardship/field allowance—variable pay tied to assignment difficulty.