Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 28 Sutra 13 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 13

Devanagari script

शासकनिर्यामकदात्र रश्मिग्राहकोत्सेचकाधिष्ठिताश्च महानावो हेमन्तग्रीष्मतार्यासु महानदीषु प्रयोजयेत्क्षुद्रिकाः क्षुद्रिकासु वर्षास्राविणीषु ॥ कZ_०२.२८.१३ ॥

Transliteration

śāsakaniryāmakadātra raśmigrāhakotsecakādhiṣṭhitāśca mahānāvo hemantagrīṣmatāryāsu mahānadīṣu prayojayet kṣudrikāḥ kṣudrikāsu varṣāsrāviṇīṣu

Translation

Les grands bateaux, pourvus d’un surveillant, d’un pilote/timonier, de rameurs (ou manutentionnaires), de préposés aux cordages et d’écopieurs, doivent être exploités sur les grands fleuves en hiver et en été ; les petits bateaux, sur les rivières secondaires et les cours d’eau grossis par les pluies pendant la mousson.

Word by Word

शासकcontroller/overseer (boat personnel)

निर्यामकpilot/guide (boat personnel)

दात्रgiver/provider (crew member)

रश्मिग्राहकrope-holder / towline handler

उत्सेचकbailer (one who bails out water)

अधिष्ठिताःappointed/placed in charge

चand

महानावःlarge boats/vessels

हेमन्तin winter season

ग्रीष्मin summer season

तार्यासुat (places) fit for crossing/fording

आसुin those

महानदीषुin great/major rivers

प्रयोजयेत्should employ/assign

क्षुद्रिकाःsmall boats

क्षुद्रिकासुin/for small (rivers/streams)

वर्षास्राविणीषुin rain-fed/monsoon-flowing (rivers/streams)

इतिthus

Entities Mentioned

overseer (śāsaka)

pilot (niryāmaka)

rope-handlers

bailers

large boats

small boats

major rivers

monsoon streams

FAQs

What is the administrative insight in specifying crew roles?

It codifies operational accountability and safety functions (steering, securing, dewatering), reducing accidents and improving service reliability.

Why differentiate by season and river size?

To match vessel capacity and risk controls to hydrological conditions—an early form of season-based infrastructure governance.