Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 25

Devanagari script

रूपदर्शकः पणयात्रां व्यावहारिकीं कोशप्रवेश्यां च स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१२.२५ ॥

Transliteration

rūpadarśakaḥ paṇayātrāṃ vyāvahārikīṃ kośapraveśyāṃ ca sthāpayet

Translation

L’Examinateur des monnaies doit établir un système pour la circulation/la gestion de l’argent dans les transactions ordinaires, ainsi que pour l’argent qui doit être versé au Trésor.

Word by Word

• रूपदर्शकः: the examiner/inspector of marks and appearance (assayer/identifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूपदर्शक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• पणयात्राम्: a trading expedition / commercial movement (of goods/merchants)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पणयात्रा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन

• व्यावहारिकीम्: pertaining to transactions; commercial
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यावहारिकी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘पणयात्राम्’ विशेषण

• कोशप्रवेश्याम्: bringing revenue into the treasury; treasury-entering (income-yielding)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोशप्रवेश्या
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘पणयात्राम्’ विशेषण

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

• स्थापयेत्: should establish / institute / set up
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (स्थापयति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; causative (णिच्)

Entities Mentioned

• Rūpadarśaka (coin examiner)
• Treasury (kośa)
• Market transactions

More Details

FAQs

Why distinguish ‘vyāvahārikī’ money from ‘kośapraveśyā’ money?

To separate rules for market circulation from stricter standards for treasury receipts—reducing counterfeit entry and improving fiscal integrity.

What modern function is closest to ‘rūpadarśaka’?

A combined role of mint assay/coin authentication and treasury cash-office verification.