Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 14 Sutra 53 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 53

Devanagari script

अवक्षेपः प्रतिमानमग्निर्गण्डिका भण्डिकाधिकरणी पिञ्छः सूत्रं चेल्लं बोल्लनं शिर उत्सङ्गो मक्षिका स्वकायेक्षा दृतिरुदकशरावमग्निष्ठमिति काचं विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.१४.५३ ॥

Transliteration

avakṣepaḥ pratimānam agnir gaṇḍikā bhaṇḍikādhikaraṇī piñchaḥ sūtraṃ cellaṃ bollanaṃ śira utsaṅgo makṣikā svakāyekṣā dṛtir udakaśarāvam agniṣṭham iti kācaṃ vidyāt

Translation

Il doit reconnaître (comme signes/épreuves d’un) verre défectueux (kāca) les éléments suivants : dépôt/précipitation, non-respect de la mesure ou du poids standard, réactions à l’épreuve du feu, nodules/bosses, fragilité et émiettement, stries en forme de plume, lignes en forme de fil, pellicule semblable à du tissu, gonflement en bulle, protubérance en forme de tête, affaissement, taches de mouche, inspection visuelle du corps même (du verre), cloquage/décollement comme une peau, épreuve du bol d’eau, et résidu/scorie après l’épreuve du feu—ainsi doit-on identifier le verre.

Word by Word

अवक्षेपःavakṣepa (a specific item/term connected with glass)

प्रतिमानम्standard, measure, model

अग्निःfire

गण्डिकाgaṇḍikā (a technical item; lit. small ball/lump)

भण्डिकाbhaṇḍikā (a technical item/container)

अधिकरणीsupport, base, stand

पिञ्छःfeather; brush-like implement

सूत्रम्thread, string

चेल्लम्cella (a technical item/term)

बोल्लनम्bollana (a technical item/term)

शिरःhead, top

उत्सङ्गःlap, recess, ledge

मक्षिकाfly; a speck/defect termed ‘makṣikā’

स्वकाय-ईक्षा‘seeing one’s own body’ (self-reflection/appearance)

दृतिःleather bag, skin container

उदक-शरावम्water-bowl, dish of water

अग्निष्ठम्placed in fire; fire-set

इतिthus

काचम्glass

विद्यात्one should know/understand

Entities Mentioned

kośa (treasury) [implicit]

state storekeepers/inspectors [implicit]

FAQs

What is the administrative intent of listing so many defect-signs for glass?

To give inspectors a standardized checklist so procurement and storage decisions are evidence-based, reducing supplier fraud and protecting state revenue.

Why are fire and water tests mentioned in a governance text?

Because the state’s economic administration relied on practical verification methods; physical tests were part of enforceable quality standards.