Arthashastra — Yogavritta, Sutra 33

Devanagari script

एतेन भृतानामभृतानां च विद्याकर्मभ्यां भक्तवेतनविशेषं च कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०५.३.३३ ॥

Transliteration

etena bhṛtānām abhṛtānāṃ ca vidyā-karmabhyāṃ bhakta-vetana-viśeṣaṃ ca kuryāt

Translation

By this same method, he should also fix differentiated rations and wages for both salaried and non‑salaried personnel, in proportion to their training/skill (vidyā) and the work performed (karma).

Word by Word

• एतेन: by this (method/rule)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम् (नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे), सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिकम्; ‘एतेन’ = ‘एतद्’ (instrumental sg.)

• भृतानाम्: of the paid (employees)
• Type: Noun (Participle used substantively)
• Root: भृत (भृ धातु-क्त)
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गे; ‘भृत’ = ‘भृतक/वेतनभृत’ (those who are paid/retained)

• अभृतानाम्: and of the unpaid (workers)
• Type: Noun (Participle used substantively)
• Root: अ-भृत (भृ धातु-क्त)
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गे; नञ्-प्रत्ययेन निषेधः

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

• विद्या: by learning/skill
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम् (विद्यया इति), स्त्रीलिङ्ग; अत्र द्वन्द्वे ‘विद्याकर्मभ्याम्’ इत्यस्य प्रथमाङ्गम्

• कर्म: by work (performance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम् (कर्मणा इति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग; अत्र द्वन्द्वे ‘विद्याकर्मभ्याम्’ इत्यस्य द्वितीयाङ्गम्

• भ्याम्: by (the two): skill and work
• Type: Case-suffix (analyzed as part of word in sandhi-resolution)
• Root: भ्याम् (विभक्ति-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: तृतीया-द्विवचन-प्रत्ययः; ‘विद्या + कर्म’ इत्येतयोः द्वन्द्वसमासे तृतीया-द्विवचनम् → ‘विद्याकर्मभ्याम्’ = ‘विद्यया कर्मणा च’

• भक्त: ration/food-allowance
• Type: Noun (PPP used in compound)
• Root: भज् (क्त)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदम्; ‘भक्त’ = ‘भोजन/आहार’ (rations/food allowance)

• वेतन: wages/salary
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेतन
• Form: समासमध्यपदम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• विशेषम्: a differentiation/gradation of rations and wages
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘भक्तवेतनविशेषम्’ = ‘भक्तस्य वेतनस्य च विशेषम्’/‘भक्त-वेतनयोः विशेषम्’ (difference/gradation in rations and wages)

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

• कुर्यात्: should make/should prescribe (fix)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्ता (अध्याहृतः) = राजा/अधिकारी

Entities Mentioned

• state employees (bhṛta/abhṛta)

More Details

FAQs

What principle of compensation does this sutra prescribe?

A differentiated pay-and-ration scale based on (1) skill/training and (2) actual work output, applied across categories of personnel.

Why mention both bhṛta and abhṛta?

To ensure the state standardizes entitlements and obligations even for personnel not on regular salary—reducing arbitrariness and corruption in provisioning.