Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 27

Devanagari script

सीसरूपं सुवर्णपत्त्रेणावलिप्तमभ्यन्तरमष्टकेन बद्धं गाढपेटकः ॥ कZ_०२.१४.२७ ॥

Transliteration

sīsarūpaṃ suvarṇapattreṇāvaliptam abhyantaram aṣṭakena baddhaṃ gāḍhapeṭakaḥ

Translation

Una «caja hermética» es aquella en la que una forma semejante al plomo está recubierta con lámina de oro, y el interior está asegurado con una atadura octogonal (o de ocho partes).

Word by Word

• सीसरूपम्: having the appearance/form of lead
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीस (सीसा) + रूप
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘सीसस्य रूपम्’ / ‘सीस-रूपम्’ = lead-like form/appearance

• सुवर्णपत्त्रेण: with a gold leaf/foil
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण + पत्त्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया; instrument ‘with/by a gold leaf/foil’

• अवलिप्तम्: coated / plated
• Type: Participle
• Root: लिप् (लेपने)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘smeared/plastered/coated’

• अभ्यन्तरम्: inside; internally
• Type: Adjective/Noun
• Root: अभ्यन्तर
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘inner/inside (part)’

• अष्टकेन: with an ‘aṣṭaka’ (a standard piece/fastener/plug)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया; instrument ‘with an aṣṭaka’ (a specific piece/weight/fastening element)

• बद्धम्: bound; fastened
• Type: Participle
• Root: बन्ध् (बन्धने)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘bound/fastened’

• गाढपेटकः: a tightly sealed box/casket
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाढ + पेटक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘a tightly-closed/firm casket/box’

Entities Mentioned

• lead core
• gold leaf
• binding/fastener
• sealed box

More Details

FAQs

What fraud pattern is described?

A dense base metal core (lead) is made to pass as gold by gold-leaf coating, then hidden within secure-looking packaging.

What is the administrative lesson?

Do not treat sealed packaging as proof of purity; require material verification beyond outward appearance.